The Cover

A solarize d im age taken fro m a U.S . Ai r Fo rce motion pi cture of experi ments
conducted for Project HIGH DI VE. T his image. un so lari zed. appears on page 34
(Figure 37).
The Roswell Report

Headquarters United States Air Force

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

McAndrew, James, 1963-

The Roswell report: case closed I James McAndrew
p. cm.
Includes index.
1. Unidentified flying objects-Sightings and encounters-New
Mexico-Roswell. 1. Title
TL789.5.N6M33 1997
OO1.942'09789'43-dc21 97-11361
CIP

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office

Washington, D.C. 20402

11

For sale by the U,S. Government Printing Omce

Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, WaShington, DC 20402-9328
ISBN 0-16-049018-9
 Foreword
The "Roswell Incident" has assumed a central place in American
folklore since the events of the 1940s in a remote area of New Mexico.
Because the Air Force was a major player in tbose events, we have played a
key role in executing the General Accounting Office's tasking to uncover all
records regarding that incident.
Our objecti ve throughout this inquiry has been simple and
consistent: to find all the facts and bring them to light. If documents were
classified, declassify them; where they were dispersed, bring them into a
single source for public review.
In July 1994, we completed the first step in that effort and later
published The Roswell Report: Fact VS. Fiction in the New Mexico Desert.
This volume represents the necessary follow-on to that first publication and
contains additional material and analysis. I think that with this publication
we have reached our goal of a complete and open explanation of the events
that occurred in the Southwest many years ago.
Beyond that achievement, this inquiry has shed fascinating light
into the Air Force of that era and re vitalized our appreciation for the
dedication and accomplishments of the men and women of that time. As
we celebrate the Air Force's 50th Anniversary, it is appropriate to once
again reflect on the sacrifices made by so many to make ours the finest air
and space force in history.

SHEILA E. WIDNALL
Secretary of the Air Force

ii i
 Guide For Readers

This publication contains the complete report as submitted to

the Secretary of the Air Force. The exceptions are the statements found in
Appendix B. Due to Privacy Act restrictions and by request, the addresses
of the individuals making these statements have been deleted.
This volume is divided into two sections, eight subsections,
eleven sidebar discussions, and three appendices. Section One examines
alleged events at two locations in rural New Mexico. Section Two
examines the alleged activities at the Roswell Army Airfield Hospital.
Appendix A is a table listing the launch and landing locations of
test equipment for U.S. Air Force scientific research projects HIGH D1 VE
and EXCELS IOR. Appendix B is a collection of signed sworn statements
based on in-person interviews conducted for this report by U .S. Air Force
researchers. The exception is the statement of Lt. Col. William C.
Kaufman, which was not sworn due to equipment failures at the time
of interview.
Appendix C contains transcripts of interviews of alleged
witnesses presented by UFO theorists. The interviews of Gerald Anderson,
Alice Knight, and Vern Maltais were excerpted in their entirety from
unedited interviews used to prepare the video, Recollections of Roswell,
Part J[ (1993), and appear courtesy of the Fund for UFO Research. The
interview of Mr. W. Glenn Dennis was provided by the interviewer, Karl
T. Pflock. The transcript of the interview of Mr. James Ragsdale was
provided by Kevin Randle, the coauthor of the Truth About the UFO
Crash at Roswell (Avon Books, 1994), in which direct quotes from this
transcript appear.
A selected bibliography of technical reports and how to obtain
them are found on page 221. For additional information on this subject,
see Headquarters United States Air Force, The Roswell Report: Fact vs.
Fiction in the New Mexico De ert (Washington D.C.: U.S. Government
Printing Office, 1995).

v
 The Author

CAPTAIN JAMES McANDREW serves as an Intelligence

Applications Officer assigned to the Secretary of the Air Force
Declassification and Review Team, The Pentagon, Was hington, D.C ..
Captain McAndrew was the coauthor, with Col. Richard L. Weaver,
of The Roswell Report: Fact vs. Fiction in the Ne w Mexico Desert
(1995), the first Air Force work on the alleged "Roswell Incident." He
participated in the declassification of the Gulf War Air Power Survey
(1 993 ) and has served special tours of duty with the Drug Enforcement
Administration and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task
Force. He holds a BS degree with honors, from Metropolitan State
College, Denver, Colo. and is a native of Washington, D.C ..

Vl
 Contents
Page

Foreword ................................................................................... .. 111

Guide for Readers ........................................................... . v

Introduction
SECTION ON E

Flying Saucer Crashes

and Alien Bodies ................................................................. 5
1.1 The "Crash Sites," Scenarios, and Research Methods............. ...... .... 11
1.2 High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops ............ .. ... .. ........................ 23
1.3 High Altitude Balloon Operations ................................................. 37
1.4 Comparison of Witnesses Accounts to U.S. Air Force Activities. 55

SECTION TWO

Reports of Bodies at Roswell

Army Air Field Hospital........................................... 75
2.1 The "Missing" Nurse and the Pediatrician .................. .. .. .. .. .. ........ 81
2.2 Aircraft Accidents ................ .............. ................. ....... .............. ....... 93
2.3 High Altitude Research Projects ....... ................... ............... .. .. ... .... 101
2.4 Comparison of the Hospital Account to the Balloon Mishap ..... . 109

Conclusion ................................................................................. 123

Notes
Section One ................................................................................................ 127
Section Two ........................ ............ .. ........... .. ............................................ 139

VlI
APPEND IX A

Anthropomorphic Dummy Launch

and Landing Locations ................................................. 155

APPENDIX B

Witness Statements
Charles E. Clouthier ................................................................................... 160
Charles A. Coltman, Jr., Col., USAF, MC (Ret) .. .................................... 162
Dan D. Fulgham, Col., USAF (Ret) .......................................................... 164
Bernard D. Gildenberg, GS -14 (Ret) .................................................. ...... 166
Ole Jorgeson, MSgt., USAF (Ret) ............................................................. 169
William C. Kaufman, Lt. Col. , USAF (Ret) .......... ............ ..... .. .. .......... ... . 171
Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr., Col., USAF (Ret) ............................................... 174
Roland H. Lutz, CMSgt., USAF (Ret) ...................................................... 178
Raymond A. Madson, Lt. Col. USAF (Ret) .. ....... .. .................................. 180
Frank B. Nordstrom, M.D .......................................................................... 182

APP ENDIX C

Interviews
Gerald Anderson ......................................................................................... 187
Glenn Dennis ........... .... .. ... ......... ....... .. ............ .. .. .. .... ....... .. ......... ................ 197
Alice Knight ................................................................................................ 2 13
Vern Maltais ................................................................................................ 214
James Ragsdale ...................................................................................... ..... 215

Selected Bibliography of
Technical Reports ................................................................. 221

Index ..................................................................................................... 225

Tables
SECTION ONE
1.1 Comparison of Testimony to Actual Air Force Equipment
and Procedures Used to Launch and Recover
Anthropomorphic Dummies.... ....... .... ... ..... ..... ................................... 69
SECTION TWO
2.1 Persons Described and Periods of Service at
Roswell AAF/Walker AFB ................................................................ . 91

vw
2.2 Fatal Air Force Aircraft Accidents by Year
in the Vicinity of Walker AFB- 1947-1960 ................. .. .................. 93
2. 3 Analysis of Air Force Aircraft Accidents
by Year in the Vicinity of Walker AFB- 1947-1960 ............... ......... 94

Figures
SECTION ONE

1. The Roswell Report: Fact VS. Fiction In The Ne w Mexico Desert.

2. The International UFO Museum and Research Center, Roswell, N.M.
3. Drawing of Project MOGUL Balloon Train.
4. Maj. Jesse Marcel With "Flying Disc" Debris.
5. ML-307B /AP Radar Target on Ground.
6. ML -307BIAP Radar Target in Flight.
7. "Harassed Rancher Who Located 'Saucer' Sorry He Told About It,"
Roswell Daily Record, July 9, 1947.
8. Announcement from November 4, 1992 Socorro (N .M. ) Defensor
Chieftan.
9. B.D. "Duke" Gildenberg.
10. Charles B. Moore.
11. Map Of New Mexico Depicting "Crash Sites" and "Debris Field."
12. Missile Recovery Scene.
13. Drone Recovery Scene.
14. "Sierra Sam" Type Anthropomorphic Dummy.
15. National Transportation Highway Safety Administration Advertisement
Featuring "Vince and Larry."
16. "Dummy Joe" with J.1. Higgins and Guy Ball, McCook Field, Ohio,
1920.
17 . Rope and Sandbag Parachute Drop Dummy on Ground.
18. Rope and Sandbag Parachute Drop Dummy Descending at Wright
Field, Ohio.
19. Ted Smith Model Anthropomorphic Dummy in Ejection Seat.
20. Anthropomorphic Dummy "Oscar Eightball" at Muroc AAF, Calif.
21. "Sierra Sam" Anthropomorphic Dummy in Ejection Seat.
22. Alderson Laboratories Anthropomorphic Dummies Hanging in Laboratory.
23. Project HIGH DIVE Dummy Launch.

IX.
24. Map Of New Mexico Depicting Dummy Landing Locations.
25 . Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr.'s Record Parach ute Jump .
26. Article In December 1960 National Geographic Featuring Project
EXCELSIOR .
27. Magazine Covers Depicting U .S. Air Force Aero-Medical
Experiments.
28 . M -342 Five-Ton Wrecker.
29. Project HIGH DIVE Gondola and "Sierra Sam" Type Anthropomorphic
Dummy.
30. 1st Lts. Raymond A. Madson and Eugene M. Schwartz with 'Sierra
Sam" Type Anth ropomorphic Dummy.
31. M-35 Two-Ton Cargo Truck.
32. M -37 3/4-Ton Cargo Truck.
33 . Lt. Co l. John P. Stapp Preparing for Rocket Sled Test.
34. Cover of Septem ber 12, 1955 Time Magaz ine Depicting
Lt. Col. John P. Stapp.
35 . Anthropomorphic Du mm y wi th Missing Fingers.
36-38 . Anthropomorphic Dummy Falling from Balloon Gondola.
39. Memo from Proj ect HIGH DrvE Files.
40. Hangi ng Anthropomorphic Dummies and Hospi tal Gurney.
4 l. Anthropomorphic Dummy in Ins ulation Bag.
42-43. High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops Report Covers.
44. Inflation 0 High Altitude Balloon for Project VIKING.
45. Lobby Card from On The Threshold of Space.
46. Promotional Photo From On The Threshold of Space.
47. Promotional Photo From On The Threshold of Space.
48. Relative Sizes of High Altitude Balloon, Airli ner, and Hot Air Balloon.
49. Target Balloon Launch Near Holloman AFB, N.M.
50. DISCOVERER Nosecone Rigged for High Altitude Balloon Flight.
51. DISCOVERER Capsule Aboard the USS Haiti Victory .
52. VI KI NG Spaceprobe at Martin Marietta Corp., Denver, Colo.
53 . Balloon Launch Of VOYAGER-M ARS Spaceprobe.
54. VIKI NG Spaceprobe at Roswell Indus trial Airport, Ros well, N.M.
55. V IKI G Space Probe Awaiting Recovery at White Sands Missile Range.

x
56. Drawing of Alleged UFO.
57 . "Vee" Balloon at Holloman AFB , N.M.
58. Current Members of the Holloman AFB Balloo n Branc h.
59 . B.D. Gildenberg, Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr., and Lt. Col. David G.
Simons (MC).
60. Ranch Family with Panel from Project STARGAZER.
61. Balloon Recovery Personnel and "The Hermit."
62. Mule Borrowed for Balloon Payload Recovery.
63. Bulldozer Used for Balloon Payload Recovery.
64. M-43 Ambulance.
65-66. Unusual Balloon Payloads.
67 . U.S . Army Commun ications Payload.
68. Scientific Balloon Payload Flown for The John Hopkins Universi ty.
69. Balloon Payload Flown from Holloman APB , N.M.
70. Project HIGH DIVE Anthropomorph ic Dummy Launch.
7 1. Vehicl s Present at Hig h Altitude Balloon Launch and Recovery Sites.
72. Alderson Laboratories Anthropomorphic Dumm ies.
73. Anthropomorphic Dummie Attached to Rack.
74. Anthropomorphic Du mmy with "Bandaged" Head.
75 . Anthropomorphic Dummy with Torn Uniform.
76. Promotional Photo From On The Threshold of Space.
77. L-20 Observation Aircraft.
78. C-47 Transport Aircraft.
79. Balloon Crew Preparing Balloon for Launch.
80. Anthropomorphic Dummy Launch Scene.
81. Typical High Altitude Balloon Launch Scene.
82. Map of New Mex ico.
SECTION TWO

1. The International UFO Museum and Research Center.

2. Capt. Eileen M. Fanton .
3. "Flying Saucer Swindlers," True Magazine, Augu st 1956.
4. "The Flying Saucers and the Mysterious Little Green Men," True
Magazine, September 1952.

xi
 5. Col. Lee F. Ferrell and U.S. Senator Dennis Chavez.
6. Lt. Col. Lucille C. Slattery.
7. KC-97 Aircraft.
8. 4036th USAF Hospital, Walker AFB, N.M., 1956.
9. Ballard Funeral Home, Roswell, N .M.
10. Maj. David G. Simons (MC), Otto C. Winzen, and Capt. Joseph W.
Kittinger, Jr.
11. Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr. in MAN HIGH Capsule.
12. Lt. Col. David G. Simons.
13. Bernard D. "Duke" Gildenberg and 1st Lt. Clifton McClure.
14. Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr. and the EXCELSIOR High Altitude Balloon
Gondola.
15. Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr. and William C. White with STARGAZER
Gondola.
16. Capt. Grover Schock and Otto C. Winzen.
17. Capt. Dan D. Fulgham and Capt. William C. Kaufman.
18. Thirty-foot Polyethylene Training Balloon.
19. Maj . Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr. in Vietnam.
20. A2C Ole lorgeson and M-43 Ambulance Converted to a Communications
Vehicle.
21 . Stenciled Letters Described as "Hieroglyphics.'
22. A2C Ole Jorgeson in Rear of M-43 Ambulance.
23. Polyethylene Balloon on Ground After High Altitude Flight.
24. Hospital Dispensary, Building 317, Walker AFB, N.M., 1954.
25. Main Gate at Walker AFB, N.M., 1954.
26. Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, lr. and Dr. 1. Allen Hynek.
27. Clinical Record Cover Sheet of Capt. Dan D. Fulgham.
28. Capt. Dan D. Fulgham at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
29. Maj. Dan D. Fulgham, James Lovell, Hilary Ray, and Alan Bean.
30. Maj. Dan D. Fulgham at Ubon AB, Thailand.
31. Memorial Plaque at Holloman AFB, N .M.
32. Nenninger Balloon Launch Facility at Holloman AFB, N.M.
33. Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr. Following EXCELSIOR 1.

xii
 Introduction
In July 1994, the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force
concluded an exhaustive search for records in response to a General
Accounting Office (GAO) inquiry of an event popularly known as the
"Roswell Incident." The focus of the GAO probe, initiated at the request
of New Mexico Congressman Steven Schiff, was to determine if the U.S.
Air Force, or any other u.s. gov m ment agency, possessed information
on the alleged crash and recovery of an extraterrestrial vehicle and its
alien occupants near Roswe ll , N.M. in July 1947.
Reports of flying saucers and alien bodies allegedly sighted in
the Roswell area in 1947, have been the subject of intense domestic and
international media attention. This attention has resulted in countless
newspaper and magazine articles, books, a television series, a full-length
motion picture, and even a film purported to be a U.S . government "alien
autopsy."
The Jul y 1994 Air Force report concluded that the predecessor
to the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army Air Forces, did indeed recover
material near Roswell in July 1947 . This I,OOO-page report methodically
explains that what was recovered by the Army Air Forces was not the
remnants of an extraterrestrial spacecraft and its alien crew, but debris
from an Army Air rOl <.; t;:; Imlluull- burne research project code named
MOGUL. I Records located describing research carried out under the
MOG L project, most of which were never classified (and publicly
available) were collected, provided to GAO, and published in one volume
for ease of access for the general public :
Although MOGUL components clearly accounted for the claims
of "flying saucer" debris recovered in 1947, lingering questions remained
concerning anecdotal accounts that included descriptions of "alien"
bodies. The issue of "bodies" was not discussed extensively in the 1994
report because there were not any bodies connected with events that
occurred in 1947. The extensive Secretary of the Air Force-dire ted
search of Army Air Forces and U.S. Air Force records from 1947 did not
yield information that even suggested the 1947 "Roswell" events were
anything other than the retrieval of the MOG L equipment. 2

<M OG UL records which ultimately lead to the identification of the origin of the 1947 claims of "t1ying saucer"
de bris , described balloon research that was never clas si fied . Other M OGU L records , describing military
applications of balloon-borne acollstical sensors, were declassifi ed, a'i ong with millions of pages of other
unrelated executive branch documents by Executive Orde r 11652, issued on March 6, 1972 by
President Richard M. Nixon.

1
 Fig.l. The Roswell Repo rt:
Fact V.I'. Fiction in th e New
Mexico Desert contai ns. in its
entirety, th e report submitted
to the Secretary of the Air
Force in July 1994. It is
available for sale from the
U.S. Government Pri nting
O ffice, Superintende nt of
Doc uments, Wa shington ,
D.C.. 20402-9328.
Stock No. 008-070-00697-9,
ISBN 0- J6-048023-X.

Subsequent to the 1994 report, Air Force researchers discovered

information that provided a rational explanation for the alleged
observations of alien boclies associated with the "Roswell Incident."
Pursuant to the discovery, research efforts compared doc umented Air
Force activities to the incredible claims of "flying saucers," "aliens" and
seemingly unusual Air Force involvement. This in-depth examination
revealed that these accounts, in most instances, were of actual Air Force
activities but were seriously fl awed in several major areas, most notably:
the Air Force operations that inspired reports of "bodies' (in addition
to being earthly in origin) did not occur in 1947. It appears that UFO
proponents have failed to establish the accurate dates for these "alien"
observations (in some instances by more than a decade) and then
erroneously li nked them to the actual Project M OGUL debris recovery.
This report disc usses the results of this further research and
identifies the likely sources of th e clai ms of "alien" bodies. Contrary
to allegations that the Air Force has engaged in a cover-up and possesses
dark secrets involving the Roswell claims, some of the accounts appear to
be descriptions of unclassified and widely publicized Air Force scientific
achievements. Other descriptions of bodies appear to be descriptions of
actual inc idents in which Air Force members were killed or injured in the
line of duty.

2
 The conclusions of the additional research are:
Air Force activ ities which occurred over a period of many
years have been consolidated and are now represented to have
occurred in two or three days in July 1947.
"Aliens" observed in the New Mexico desert were probably
anthropomorph ic test dummies that were carried aloft by U.S.
Air Force high altitude balloons for scientific research.
The "unusual" military activities in the New Mexico desert
were high altitude research balloon launch and recovery
operations. The reports of military units that always seemed to
arrive shortiy after the crash of a flying saucer to retriev the
saucer and "crew,' were actually accurate descriptions of Air
Force personnel engaged in anthropomorphic dum my recovery
operations.
Claim of bodies at the Roswell Army Air Field hospital were
most likel y a combinatio n of two separate incidents:
1) a J 956 KC-97 aircraft accident in which 11 Air Force
members lost their lives; and
2) a 1959 manned balloon mi hap in which two Air Force
pilots were injured.
This report is based on thoro ughly documented research
supported by official records, technical repol1s, film fo tage, photographs,
and interviews with individuals who were involved in these events.

Fig. 2. Roswell , N.M. (pop.

37,000), boasts competing
"museums" focusing on the
Roswell Incident. including
this one, T he International
UFO Museum and Research
C enter.

3
 SECTION ONE

Flying Saucer Crashes

and Alien Bodies
The most puzzling and intriguing element of the complex series
of events now known as the Roswell Incident, are the alleged sightings of
alien bodies. The bodi es turned what, for many years , was just another
flying saucer story, into what many UFO proponents claim is the best
case for extraterrestrial visitation of Earth. The importance of bodies and
the assumptions made as to their origin is illustrated in a passage from a
popular Roswell book:
Crashed saucers are one thing, and could well turn out to be
f uturistic American or even forei gn aircraft or missiles. But alien bodies
are another matter entirely, and hardly subject to misinterpretation. 3
The 1994 Air Force report determined that project MOGUL was
responsible for the 1947 events. MOGUL was an experimentaJ attempt
to acoustically detect suspected Soviet nuclear weapon explosions and
ballistic missile launches. 4 MOGUL utilized acoustical sensors, radar
reflecting targets and other devices attached to a train of weather balloons
over 600 feet long. Claims that the U.S . Army Air Forces recovered a
"flying disc" in 1947, were based primarily on the lack of identification
of the radar targets, an element of weather equipment used on the long
MOGUL balloon train . The oddly constructed radar targets were found by
a New Mexico rancher during the height of the first U. S. flying saucer
wave in 1947. 5 The rancher brought the remnants of the balloons
and radar targets to the local sheriff after he allegedly learned of the
broadcasted reports of flyin g discs . However, following some initial
confusion at Roswell Army Air Field, the "flying disc" was soon
identifi ed by Army Air Forces officials as a standard radar target. 6
From 1947 until the late 1970s, the Roswell Incident was
essentially a non-story. The reports that existed contain only descriptions
of mundane materials that originated from the Project MOGUL balloon
train- "tinfoil, paper, tape, rubber, and sticks ."7 The first claim of
"bodies" appeared in the late 1970s, with additional claims made during
the 1980s and 1990s. These claims were usually based on anecdotal
accounts of second-and third-hand witnesses collected by UFO
proponents as much as 40 years after the alleged incident. The same

5
anecdotal accounts that referred to bodies also described massive field
operations conducted by the U.S. military to recover crash debris from a
supposed extraterrestrial spaceship.
A technique used by some UFO authors to collect anecdotal
corroboration for their theories wa to solicit cooperating witnesses through
newspaper announcements. For example, one such solicitation appeared in
the Socorro (N.M.) Defensor Chieftan on November 4, 1992, on behalf of

T'\AI'< ~OR CLUSTEH F'~IGHT NO.2

To Bf p ......... T III~ .. L' . . . . , ~ I..~II"" ~ ...... .. , ...

T OP

/\
I
,'10,. , .
('t ... . ,.,.... )
- !
, .. ,,,. ,6 . _ Y
'''' "" .... ,~". ~. \

1" .. , 1,,1< ,. I
111 .. ,." 11)
,' 0.' ... , ,. , .
It .... ~ ,.. ,. , LA ~ t c.
~(~~j'
,
...
...t "....,,.-y.
.... . " ..I_ .
.." u,,, ....
.."" ...
11 .,.a" ,. ... "It,

J-N . A ' ~; f .. " . ~ r ."

I."".~ I., i ,.,.-.

J_"
. " .... r, oi
" '~~ 'e"
T , .....

~j"'j"'J r;~l oj( ".!
I, . ......... ""b . . ... r ..
Fig. 3. An illustration of a
Project MOG UL balloon train
$. e"",, , $9 .'~ . alnJ similar to one foun d on a ranch
.r " i ,(;Q,'
75 miles northwest of Roswell ,
N.M . in Ju ne 1947, which
contains all of the "strange"
e>. ~ ;t~~ Jl;? ~tMl materials described as part of a
~.U/l"t. ....,. lit
~ ., ... . .::.... ." ...u_. "'."e. "flying disc." Initial confusion
at Roswell AAF and delayed
identification of thi s equipment
". ....... ...
JI.,i. , ... .ti..". ..'
-, ..
.... ,.""1."' .. was the first in a series of
unrelated events now known
as the "Roswell Incident."

6
Fig. 4. (Right) Maj. Jesse
Marcel, an intelligence officer
from Ro swell Army Air field,
with the debris found 75 miles
northwest of Roswell in June
1947. When compared to a
standard radar target used by
project MOGUL, it is clear that
they are the same object.
(Cmu'/esy, Special Collectiol1s
Divisiol1, the University of
Texas at Arlillfiton Libraries,
Arlingto/l, Tex.)

ig. 5 & 6. (Be/ow, leli

and right) Constructed of
aluminized paper glued and
taped to a balsa wood frame,
several ML-307B/AP raclar
targets were used on the
MOG L balloon train to make

7
 Harasseel Rancher who Locateel
Saucer' Sorry He Tolel A bout It
t
W. W . Braorel, 48, Lln colr. county
rancher IIvtnJr 30 m iles sou th east
of Corona. today told h Is story of
!Indlm what the army at fi rst
described e.s a Oytnll dISK, but
t he pubUcity which attended h is
find caused him t.o add t h8t II he
ever found anythlnR else ~ho rL of
a bomb he sure wasn' t gOing t.o
say anythlna abcIut It.
Brazel was broug ht here late
yesterday by W, E, Wh itmore, of
rad io ste.tlon KOFL, had Ills pic-
ture tatm and alive an Interv!ew
to th e Recant IUld J llSOn Kellahin,
~e n t h erl! f rom the A1b uqu e~u e
bureau at the AssocIa ted Press to
coyer the st.ory. The picture he
po&ed tor Willi sent out ovu AP
te l ~ photo wire ~nd lng machine
speci ally set up In the Record
off ice by R. D. Adair, AP wire
eh ef ~ e Dt here !ro m Albuquerque
[or the sole purpose 01 lIetLin i out
h is Rleture and th at of shertrf
George Wilcox, to whom Bra.zeI
o ri~ i n aJly gave Lhe'<in1ormation ot
hL, !lnd .
BrllUl rela~ thRt on June 14
U~ lin d &II 8-l'el1.t old son . Vernon
wert! abou t 7 or 8 mll p.~ from t he
ra.nch house of the J. B. Fo.,te r
rt.D ch , ""Web he opera tes, when
they came lWOn a large area o r rould not reecllstru ct It at all . have welilhed m&'ybe five pounds .
brIgh t wreckage m ade UP on rub- They triM to make .. kite. out of It,
ber slrips , UnCoil. a rather tough but could noL do ~ha l !lnd could
There w...,
no SIgn of any meW
In the area which might liave
pape r and sLIcks. not !lnd any way to pu ~ It be.c k been U3ed ror an enalne llnd no
At the time Brazel wa.s in Ii togeth er so tha t It would fIt. sign at any propellers or any kInd.
h url'1 to get hill roun d made and Then Major Marcel btought It
II
he <l Id not p&.y much Ilt trn tlon to to Rosw en and that wa:l the last
It. But he d id remark abou t wh at he heard 01 iL until the story
although at lea.s t one paper 11n
hRd been glued on to some oC the
tin foil .
he had seen and on J uly 4 h e, his broke t hat he h ad foun d a. flying There weu no words to be found
wite. Vern'on and a daugh LCr Bc t- disk . a nywhere on the Insu-umen t. al-
t.v, age a . went back t.o the l;PO t Brazel said that he d id not see though there were lettet'l! on 691JIe
an d gat hered UP quIte a bit 01 the tt fail from the sky and did not of the parts. Considerable SCOLeh
debris, ~ee It before It was tom u p. 110 \.ape and some te.pe wi h fiowen;
I
Th e next day he rtrs t he ard he d id not know the s Ire or shape
a bout the . f1ylll/iC dl$ks , and he it ml~hL have been . but he thought
wondered 11 wh a t he h ad fou nd It m!gh t h ave been about as large
printed upon It bad been used In
the conslrucUon.
No. strings or wire were to be
mIght be the remnanl-'l of one as a table top. T he balloon which Cound but there were some eyc-
at these. held It uP. If that was how It lets In the paper to Indicate that
I
Montlay he came to town to sell work.ed, must have t>een a bout 12
some wool alllI while here he wen L leet long, he felt. measuring the
to liee sherlH G eorge Wilcox a nd d is\.an ce by the sl ~.e 01 t he room
some sort of alt.acbment IIllI.Y have
been used .
Brazel uJ d th&t hI! h ad prl!-
"whispered kin d a conflden tl aJ . !.n which he sat. The rubber was vlo usly found twa wcather ob5er -
li ke" Ul a t h e might have fo un d a s moky gray ill color and scat tered vat!on ba lloons on the ranch , but
Oying disk. over an area about 200 yards in th at what he found thIa Ume did
Wilcox 1I0t In touch wi th the dl&meter. not in anY wa:y reSemble either
Roswt!lI Anny AIr Fie ld and Ma j. When the de bris wns gathered of these.
J esse A. Marcel and 1\ man In up t he t lnfoU , paper, tape, and "I am .sure what I fO Wld was
plBln cl otHes pcco mp&l\ l ~ hi m sticks mad~ a bundle abbut t hree not a n y weather ob5ervatlon
Iwm~ , where they picked up the Ceet long QJld 7or 8 Inches UUclc . balloon ," he aa1d . "But Ir r tlnd
rest or ttl. pieces of the " dl~k." whlle the rubbet IDJ1c a bundle anythinK elae. besld~ a bomb they
Bnd went W h.Is home to try to ",bout 18 or 20 Inches long and are going t.o have a han! time
rer.onstmcL It. "bout 8 I nchp_~ Lh lcll:. In aJJ, he aeILing me to say any t.bing Ilobout
AccordIng to Brazel they si mply eSUmated. the enUre IDt would I~."

Don Berliner and Stanton T. Friedman the authors of the book Crash at Fig. 7. This account from the
Corona . This request solicited persons to provide information about the July 9, 1947 Roswell Daily
Reco rd, described lh materials
supposed crashes of alien spacecraft in the Socorro area. s "tinfoil, paper. rubber, tape,
In response to the newspaper announcement, two scientists and sticks" found on the ra nch
75 miles northwest of Roswell.
central to the actual explanation of the "Roswell" events, Professor in June 1947.
Charles B. Moore , a former U.S . Army Air Forces contract engineer, and
Bernard D. Gildenberg, retired Holloman AFB Balloon Branch Physical
Science Administrator and Meteorologist, came forward with pertinent
information.9 According to Moore and Gildenberg, when they met with
the authors their explanations that some of the Air Force projects they
participated in were most likely responsible for the incident, they were
summarily dismissed. The authors even went so far as to suggest that
these dis tinguished sci entists were participants in a multifaceted
government cover-up to conceal the truth abou t the Roswell Incident.

. Socorro. N. M. is situated at the northwest boundary of White Sands Mi ssile Range. the largest mili tary test
range in the United States . Since the 1940s, White Sand s and the su rround in g areas of New Mexico have been
the site of a high volume of military t Sl and evaluation activity. including the launch and recovery of
anlh ropomorphic dummies carried aloft by high altitude ballo on~.

8

Fig. 8. Announcement from
th November 4, 1992 Socorro
(N.M. ) Defensor Chiejtan
soliciting witnesses of fl ying
saucer crashes in New Mexico.
When former Air Force
scientists responded to adv ise
the authors th at Air Force
projects were most probably
re ponsible for the UFO
accou nts. they were summarily
di smissed by the authors who
placed the announcement,
and th en were ac cused of
participating in a cover-up.
Authors seek UFO witnesses
Co-authors of II major book on
the 1947 crash of at least one alien
spaceaaft in the New Mexico
desert will be al the Golden Manor
Motel in Socorro on Monday, Nov.
16 to seek oul additional witnesses
10 these events.
Nuclear physicist Stantoo T.
Friedman and aviatiOiVsclence
wrieer 000 Berliner. whose "Crash
at Corona" is now in its second
printing, want 10 meel wilh people
baving knowledge of lhe 1947
crashes.
Their book, being published in
August by Paragon House of New
Yort, is being prepared for a made-
for-TV movie. It is !be story of til!
discovery, retrieval, shipping and
cover-up of what the authors call
the most important scientific dis-
covery of !be past thousand years.
II is based on dozens of inter
views with first- and second-hand
civilian and ex-military witnesses
10 various parts of what is referred
to as & very complex series of
events.
In order to strengthen their case
for government knowledge of what
they call "the trulh behind almost
50 yeatll of UFO sighting.~ , " Ihe au-
thors 1m: seeking out additional.
reliable will1esscs. It remail1li their
policy 10 honor requests to keep the
names of wilDesses privale.
For more infonnation, contact
Don Berliner, 1202 S. Wru;hington
51., Alexandria. VA . 22314 (703-
5480405); or St:u1ton T . Friedm:u1.
79 Pembroke Crescent, Frederic-
ton. New Brunswick IDB 2V 1.
Canada (506 4S70232).
Witnesses are invited to call ei-
ther author collect or to malte ar-
rangements to meet them at any of
\tEir stOPR in New Mexico, which
include the cities of Santa Fe, Al -
buquerque, La~ Cruces, Alamo-
gordo and Roswell.

Fig. 9. (L eli) B.D. "Duke"

Gildenberg served as the civilian
meteorologist. engineer, and
physical science administrator
for the Holloman AFB Balloon
Branch from 1951-1981.
Gildenberg actively participated
in thousands of high altitude
balloon operations. including
the fligh ts that dr opped
anthropomorphic dununies at
off-range locations throughout
ew Mexico. GiJdenberg, the
"father" of Air' Force scientific
ballooning, wa~ instrumental in
identifying the many actual Air
Force activi ties now known as
lhe "Roswell Incident."

F ig. 10. (Right) Charles B.

Moore, Professo r Emelitus of
Atmospheric Physics at the New
Mexico Institute of Mining and
Technology, was the project
engineer for New York Universi ty
under contract to the .S. Anny Since many of the Roswell accounts and allegations were collected by
Air Forces to dev elop high irregular methods and are not specifically documented, the series of events as
altitude balloon technology for
Project MOG UL. Moore launched alleged by UFO theorists has become very complex and requires clarification.
the balloon train on June 4, Therefore, the following section will briefly ex.amine some of the more confusing
1947, that when combined with
other events, are now known as elements of the Roswell stories, specifically, the multiple crash sites and complex.
the "Roswell Incident." scenarios, in order to facilitate an objective analysis of actual events.

9
 1.1
The "Crash Sites," Scenarios,
and Research Methods
The "Crash Sites"
From 1947 until the late 1970s, the Rosw lllncident was
confined to one alleged crash site. This site, located on the Foster
Ranch approximately 75 miles northwest of the city of Roswell, was the
actual landing site of a Project MOG UL balloon train in June 1947.!O The
MOG UL landing site is referred to in popu1 ar Roswell literature as the
"debris field. '
In the 1970s, the 19808 and throughout the 19905, additional
witnesses came forward with claims and descriptions of two other alleged
crash sites. One of these sites was supposedly north of Roswell, the other
site was alleged to have been approximately 175 miles northwest of
Roswell in an area of New Mexico known as the San Agustin Plains. "
What distinguished the two new crash sites from the original debris field
were accounts of alien bodies.

NEW MEXICO

'0

Fig. II. Map of New Mexico

depicting the "crash ites" and
"debris fi eld."

11
The Scenarios "It must be
UFO enthusiasts have attempted to explain the obvious
emphasized that
contradiction of multiple impact sites involving only one alien craft the claims of
through the introduction of complicated scenarios. These scenarios have bodies only
become increasingly convoluted since the proponents of each crash site became part
must make allowances to have "their" flying saucer at the correct time of the Roswell
and place- the actual M OGUL balloon train landing site in early July, Incident after
1947- in order to "fit" with the rest of the story. The actual Project
1978, when they
M OG UL landing site, 75 miles northwest of Roswell, lends credibility, and
more importantly establishes a time f rame, for the other accounts that
were erroneously
include reports of bodies. Flying saucer enthusiasts use the documented linked to the July
presence of U.S. Army Air Forces personnel at the M OG UL site in July 1947 retrieval of
1947, who were there to retrieve the M OGUL balloon train, to provide Project MOGUL
the nucleus of unrelated and much later accounts that include reports of components."
"bodies." It must be emphasized that the claims of "bodies" only became
part of the Roswell Incident after 1978, when they were erroneously
linked to the July 1947 retrieval of Project M OGU L components.
In general, "Roswell Incident" scenarios claim that a disabled
alien craft momentarily touched down at the site 75 miles northwest of
Roswell, leaving behind parts of the spaceship (material that has been
subsequently identified as components of a M OGUL balloon trai n) to
create the original "debris field." The scenarios further contend that the
damaged craft again became airborne and flew to its final crash site, at
either the location north of Roswell or 175 miles northwest of Roswell on
the San Agustin Plains .
Regardless of the dispute over the location, an element common
to most scenarios was that, once recovered, the bodies were supposedly
transported to the hospital at Roswell Army Air Field for autopsy. Also
common to these theories is that the bodies were later shipped from
Roswell AAF to another facility, usually Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
(or a host of other facilities- this is another area of further disagreement
among UFO theorists) for further evaluation and ultimate deep-freeze
storage.

Research Methods
In an attempt to untangle this collection of complicated
assertions and determine if there was any validity to the reports of bodies,
Air Force researchers faced the task of sorting through and examining
anecdotal testimony of hundreds of witnesses. However, a large number
of the accounts were eliminated by applying previously established facts
to the testimonies. The July 1994 report to the Secretary of the Air Force
clearly presented and documented these facts:
a. The U. S. Army Air Forces did not recover an extraterrestrial
vehicle and alien crew. This conclusion was based on extensive
research that included a thorough review of both classified and

12
 unclassified materials at record depositories, archives, libraries and
research facilities throughout the nation. Of the millions of pages
of material reviewed, there was no mention of any activities that
even tangentially suggested such an event. Additionally, former
and retired Air Force members and civilian contract ci entis ts
were located and released from any possible nondisclosure
agreements they may have entered into regarding past classified
activities. This release allowed them to free ly disc uss with Air
Force researchers, or any other persons, information related to
this issu e. These releases were issued at the express written
direction of the Secretary of the Air Force. Interviews with
these persons yielded no information supporting extraterrestrial
claims or any other unusual activities.
h. The reports of bodies were not as ociated with Project
MOGUL. The MOG UL balloon train did not, was not designed to,
nor could it carry passengers. Neither did it carry hazardous
materials that would have caused injury, death, or mutilation
to persons who may have come in contact with any of its
components.
c. Actual events, if any, that inspired reports of bodies did not
occur in 1947. Based on extensive examinations of U.S. Army
Air Forces activities in 1947, no evidence was found to support
allegations that the Army Air Forces was involved in any
uncommon operations other than the retrieval of the MOG UL
balloon train in the Roswell area in July 1947. Examination
of research and development projects, aircraft crashes, errant
missiles and possible nuclear accidents yielded no information
to support a 1947 claim .
In light of these documented facts, the hundreds of anecdotal
accounts were red uced to a few. Eliminated were accounts that were
likely descriptions of materials known to be part of the Project MOGU L
balloon train and accounts describing transportation of these materials.
From the remaining testimony, Air Force researchers developed
the following set of working hypotheses to assi t in identifying the actual
events, if any, matching those described by the witnesses.
a. Due to the number and great detail provided in some of the
accounts, it was likely that some event(s) actually did OCCUf.

h. Due to the many similarities of the two crash site descriptions

and the considerable distance between them, it was likely that
more than one event with , imilar characteristics was the basis
for these accounts.
c. Since the account of bodies at the Roswell Army Air Field
hospital did not contain elements similar to reports of the two

13
 crash sites, it was likely that this account was unrelated to the
crash site accounts . (The hospital account will be addressed
separately in Section Two of this report. )
The remaining testimony was examined with regard both to
tbe facts and to working hypotheses to determine if there were common
threads or links conn cting any of the accounts. If similarities were
found, the next step was to determine if they were related to an actual
event. Finally, if tbere were actual event(s), were they part of U.S. Air
Force or U.S . Government activities?

Common Threads
Careful examination of the testimony revealed that primary
witne ses of the two "crashed saucer" locations contained descriptions
common to both. These areas of commonality contained both general
and detailed characteri tics. However, before continuing, the accounts
were carefully examined to determine if the testimony related by
individual witnesses were of their own experiences and not a recitation
of information given by other persons. While many aspects of the
remaining accounts were judged to be similar, other aspects were found
to be significantly different. The accounts on which the analysis is based
were determined, in all likelihood, to have been independently obtained
or observed by the witnesses.
General Similarities. The testimony presented for both crash
sites generally followed the same sequence of events. The witnesses
were in a rural and isolated area of New Mexico. In the course of
their travels in this area, they came upon a crashed aerial vehicle. The
witn e sses then proceeded to the urea of the crash to i nvesti gate and at
some distance they observed strange looking "beings" that appeared to
be crewmembers of the vehicle. Soon thereafter, a convoy of military
vehicles and soldiers arrived at the site. Military personnel allegedly
instructed the civilians to leave the area and forget what they had seen.
As the witnesses left the area, the military personnel commenced with a
recovery operation of the crashed aerial vehicle and "crew."
Detailed Similarities. Along with general similarities in the
testimonies, there also existed a substantial amount of similar detailed
descriptions of the "aliens," and the military vehicles and procedures
allegedly used to recover them.
The first obvious similarity was the descriptions of the aliens.
Mr. Gerald Anderson, an alleged witness of events at the site 175 miles
northwest of Roswell, recalled, "I thought they were plastic dolls." 12 Mr.
James Ragsdale, an alleged witness of the site north of Roswell, stated,
"They were using dummies in those damned things." 13 Another alleged
witness to a "crash" north of Roswell, Frank J. Kaufman, recalled that
there was "talk" that perhaps an "experimental plane with dummies in it"
was the source of the claims. 14

14
 Additional similarities were also noted . Mr. Vern Maltais , a
secondhand witness of the site 175 miles northwest of Roswell, described
the hands of the "aliens" as, "They had four fing ers." 15 Anderson
characterized the hands as, "They didn' t have a little finger." 16 He a[so
described the heads of the aliens as "completely bald" '7 while Maltais
described them as "hairless.' 18 The uniforms of the aliens were
independently described by Anderson as "one-piece suits ... a shiny
silverish-gray color" 19 and by Maltais as "one-piece and gray in color." 20
The date of this event was also not precisely known. Maltais recalled that
it may have occW'red "around 1950"21 and another secondhand witness,
Alice Knight stated, 'I don' t recall the date." 22
Witnesses of different sites also used the terms "wrecker"23 and
"six-by-six"24 when they described the military vehicles present at the
different recovery sites . One witness described seeing a "medium sized
Jeep/truck"25 and another witness described seeing a "weapons carrier"26
(a weapons carrier is a mid-sized Jeep-type truck).

The Research Profile

When the general and specific similarities were combined, a
profile emerged describing the event or activity that might have been
observed. The profile, which contains elements common to at least two,
and in some cases, all of the accounts, established a set of criteria used
to determjne what the witnesses may have observed. The profile is as
follows :
a. An activity that, if viewed from a distance, would appear unusual.
h. An activity of which the exact date is not known.
c. An activity that took place in two rural areas of New Mexico.
d. An activity that involved a type of aerial vehicle with dolls
or dummies that had four fingers, were bald, and wore one-
piece gray suits.
e. An activity that required recovery by numerous military
personnel and an assortment of vehicles that included a wrecker, a
six-by-six, and a weapons carrier.
Based on this profile, research was begun to identify events
or activities with these characteristics . Due to the location of the sites,
attention was focused on Roswell AAF (renamed Walker AFB in 1948).
White Sands Missile Range and Holloman AFB , N.M. The aerial
vehicles assi gned or under development at these facilities were aircraft,
missiles, remotely-piloted drones , and high altitude balloons. The
operational characteristi cs and areas where these vehicles flew were
researched to determine if they played a role in the events described by
the witnesses.

L5
 Missiles and Drones. Missiles and drones were determined not
to have been responsible for the accounts.' The areas where the alleged
crashes took place were, in all likelihood, too far from the White Sands
Missile Range . Missiles were equipped with a self-destruct mechanism
that was activated if it strayed off-course or out of the White Sands
Missile Range. There was never a program that required a dummy or
doll to be placed inside a missile or a drone. However, missiles were
launched from White Sands carrying monkeys and other small animals
aloft for scientific research Y These projects were well documented, and
none of these missiles landed near either of the two crash sites.
Aircraft. Aircraft seemed just as unlikely as missiles to have
been responsible for the extraterrestrial claims as outlined in the profile.
Although additional research revealed the signifIcant role dummies
played in the test and evaluation of aircraft emergency escape sy stems,
these dummies were used on board aircraft and on the high-speed test
track at Holloman AFB. However, aircraft test fl ights demanded strict
adherence to established flight profiles over the instrumented portions
of the White Sands Missile Range, many miles from the alleged crash
sites. Dummies used on the high-speed track remained in the immediate
Figs. 12 & 13. Missi les (left)
vicinity of the track facilities at Holloman AFB. This geographical and drones (right) under
impossibility ruled out dummies that were ejected from aircraft and those develop ment at Holloman
llsed on the higb-speed track as a cause of alleged alien sightings. (Aircraft AFB , N.M . were dctcnni ned
not to have bee n involved
accidents will be discussed extensively in Section Two of this report.) in the "Roswell Incident."
(U S. Air Fo rce ph otos)

From September 1961 until March 1965 12 Atlas F intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs ) were
deployed by the 579" Strategic Missile Sq uadron ,in areas surrounding Walker AFB, N.M. These missiles were
determined not to have been involved in the Roswell Incident.

16
 High Altitude Research Balloons. The only vehicles not yet
evaluated as a possible source of the accounts were high altitude research
balloons. Previous reviews of early research balloon flight records
revealed that trajectories of high altitude balloons were, at times,
unpredictable and did not usually remain over Holloman AFB or White
Sands Missile Range. 2R Many of the scientific payloads required
re overy so the data collected during flight could be returned to the
laboratory for analysis.
These characteristics seemed to fit at least some of the research
profile. Atmospheric sampling apparatus or weather instruments, the
typical payload of many high altitude balloons, could hardly have been
mistaken for space aliens. A careful examination of the instruments
carried aloft by the high altitude balloons revealed that one unique
project used a device that very likely could be mistaken for an alien-
an anthropomorphic dummy.
An anthropomorphic dummy is a human substitute equipped
with a variety of instrumentation to measure effects of environments and
situations deemed too hazardous for a human . These abstractly human
dummies were firs t used in New Mexico in May 1950, and have been
used on a continuous basis since that time. 29
In the 1950s, anthropomorphic dummies were not widely
exposed outside of scientific research circles and easily could have
been mistaken fo r some hing they were not. Today, anthropomorphic
dummies, better known as crash test dummies, are easily identifiable and
are even the "stars" of their own automotive safety advertising campaign.
During the 1950s when the U.S. Air Force dropped the odd-looking test
devices from high altitude balloons in its program to study high altitude
human free-fall characteristics, public awareness and stardom were
decades away. It seems likely that someone who unexpectedly observed
these dummies at a di tance would believe they had seen something
unus ual. In retrospect, when interviewed over 40 years later, they could
accurate ly report that th y had seen something very unusual.
With the introduct ion of anthropomorphic dununies as a
possible explanation for the reports of bodies, another element of the
research profile appeared to be satisfied. Specific information that
described the locations, methods, and procedures used to employ the
dummies was required before any definitive conclu ions could be drawn.
To gather this detailed information, research efforts were concentrated on
high altitude balloon operations and the specific projects that utilized
balloon-borne anthropomorphic dummies .

17
 Fig. 14. (Left ) Example of
an anthropomorphic dummy
carried aloft by U.S. Air Force
high altitude balloons. These
dummies landed at numerous
locations throu ghou t New
Mexico du ring the J950s.
(U.S. Air Force photo)
Fig. 15. (Right) Newspaper
advertisement depicting
an thropomorphic d ummies
"Vince and Larry" "stars" of
the sLiccessful adverti: ing
campaign by the Na tional
H ighway Traffi c Safety
Administration to encourage
use of safety belts. (Courtesy
ojNHTSA)

18
 Test Dummies Used by the U.S. Air Force

Since the beginning of manned flight , designers have sough t a

substitute for the human body to test hazardo us new equi pment. Early
devi ces used by the predecessors of the U.S. Air Forc e were simpl y
constructed parachute drop test du mmies with little sim ilarity to the human
form. Following World War II, aircraft emergency e scape systems became
increasingl y sophisticated and e ngineers requ ired a du mmy with more
humanlike characteristics.

Parachute Drop Dummies

During World War I research and develop ment of the first U.S.
mi li tary parachute was underway at McCook F ield , O hio. To tes t the
parachute, engineers experimented with several types of dum mies, settli ng
on a model constructed of three-inch hemp rope and sandbags with the
approximate proportion s of a medium-sized man Y) The new inve ntion was
soon known by the nickname "D ummy Joe." Dummy Joe is said to have
made more than five thousand "j umps" between 19 18 and 1924.31
By 1924, parachutes were required on mili tary aircraft with their
serviceability tested by dumm ies dropped from aircraft. 32 For this routine
test ing, several types of dummies were used . The most com mon type is
shown in figure s 17 and 18. Parachutes were indivi duall y drop-tested from
aircraft until the early stages of World War 11, when, due both to increased
reliabi1ity an.d large num ber s of parachutes in service, thi s ro utine practice
was discontinued . Nonetheless, test dummies were still used frequently by
the Parachute Branch of Air M ateriel Command CAMC) at W right Field ,
Ohio, to test new parachute designs .

Fig. 16. "' Dummy Joe,' the

hero of five thousand jumps"
is shown here with engineers
1.1. Higgins (left) and Guy Ball
at McCook Field, Ohio in 1920.
(U.S. Air Force photo)

19
 Fig. 17. (Left) Early
ro pe and sandbag dummy
used to test parachutes.
(US. Air Force photo)

Fig. 18. (Right) Parachute

drop dummies in use at
Wright Fi eld , Ohio. The
hi stOl',ic Flight Test hangars,
Hangars I and 9 , can be
seen in th e background.
(US. Air Force photo)

Anthropomorphic Dummies
T he ejection seat had been develo ped and used successfu ll y by the
German Luftwaffe during the latter stages of Wo rl d War II . The uti lity of
this inven tion was rea li zed when the U .S . Army Ai r Forces obtained an
ejection seat in 1944.33 To prop rly test the eject ion seat, the A rmy Air
Forces required a du mm y tha t had th e same center of gravity and w ei ght
distribution as a human, characteristics tha t parachute drop dummies did not
possess. In 1944, the USAAF Air M ateriel C om mand con tracted with the
Ted Smith Company of Up per D arby, Pa. to design and manu facture the fi rst
dummy intended to acc urately represent a human. 34 The dummy had the
same ba sic shape as a human , but with only abstract hu man feat ures , and
"skin" made of canvas.
In 194 9, the U.S. Air Force Ae ro Medical Laboratory submitted a
proposal for an improved model of the anthropomorphic dummyY This
request was originated by the renowned Air Force scienti st and physician
John P. Stapp. now a retired Colonel, who conducted a series of landmark

Figs. 19 & 20. (Lefi & Right)

These early anthropomorphic
du mmies, manufactured by
the Ted Smith Co., of Upper
Darby, Pa., were used by the
Army Air Forces beginning in
1944. They were replaced by
a more reaJist,ic dummy in 1949.

(Right) "Oscar Eightball," the

name given to this early model
anthropomorphic dummy by
Col. John P. Stapp, is shown
following a run of the high-
speed track at Muroc AAF (now
Edwards AFB), Calif., in 1947.
(US. Air Force photos)

20
 experi ments at M uroc (now Edward ) AFB, Calif. , to measure the effects of
accel erat io n and decelera tion during hig h- speed aircraft j ection s. J6 S tapp
required a du mmy that had the same center of gravity a nd articulation as a
hum an, but , unli ke the Ted S mith du mmy, was more human in appearance.
A more accur ate external appe arance was required to provide for the proper
fit of helmets oxygen mask s, and other equipment used du ring the test s .
Sla pp requested the An thropolog y B ranch of the Aero Medical Lahorato ry
at W righ t F ield to review anth ropo logical , orthopedic , a nd engineering
li ~erature to prepare specificatio ns for the new d ummyY P laster Casts of
the torso , legs, and ann' of a n A ir Force pi lot were al so taken to assure
accuracy .3 ~ The result was a proposed du mmy that stood 72 inche s ta ll
wei ghed 200 pounds, had pro vision s for mo un ting instru me ntation , and
could withstand up to 100 ti mes the force of gra vity or 100Gs .
In 1949 , a cont ract was awarded to Sj rra E ngi neering C o mpany of
Sierra M adre , Calif., and deli ve ries began in 1950 39 Th is dum my quickly
becam e known as "S ierra Sam."
In 195 2 , a contract for anthropomorphic d um mie s was awarded
to AId rson Res earch Laboratories, Inc. , of New York Ci ty:o Du mm ie
constructed by both companies possessed the same basic characteri stics: a
skel eton of aluminu m or slee l, latex o r pl astic sk in, a cast aluminu m s kUll,
and an in strume nt cavity in the torso and head for the mou nting of st.rain
gauges, accel erometers, transducers, and rate gyroS .4 1 Models used by the
Air Force were primarily parachute d rop and ejectio n seat version s w ith
center of gravity tolerances within one quarter inch.
O ver th e nexl several years the two companies improved and
redesigned internal stru cture s and ins tru mentation , but the b asic extern al
appearance of the du mm ies remained relatively con stant fro m the mid
1950s to the late 1960s. Dummie, of these t. pes we re mos t likely the
"aliens" associated with the "Rosw ell I ncident."

Figs. 21& 22. Examples

of a "S ierra Sam" ("1t)
and Alderso n Laborato ries
anthropomo rphi c dummies
(righl) of the type dropped
from balloons at off-range
locati o ns th rougho llt e w
Mex ico during the 1950s.
(U. S. Air Force photos)

21

Fig. 23. Project H IGH D I VI':
anthropomorphic du mmy
launch , White Sands Proving
Grou nd . N.M ., June 11, 1957.
(U.s. A ir Force photo )
1.2
High Altitude Balloon
Dummy Drops
From 1953 Lo 1959, anthropomorphlc dummies were used by the U.S. Air
Force Aero MedicaJ Laboratory as part of the hlgh altitude aircraft escape projects HIGH
DIVE and EXCELSIOR. 42 The object of these studies was to devise a method to return a
pilot or astronaut LO earth by parachute, if forced to escape at extreme altitudes. 43
Anthropomorphic dummies were transported to altitudes up to 98,000
feet by high altitude balloons. The dummies were then released for a period of
free-fall while body rnovemenl'i and escape equipment performance were recorded
by a variety of instruments. Forty-three high altitude balloon flights carrying 67
anthropomorphic dummies were launched and recovered throughout New Mexico
between June 1954 and February 1959.44 Due to prevailing wi nd conditions,
operational factors and ruggedness of the terrain, the majority of dummies
impacted outside the confines of military reservations in eastern New Mexico,
near Roswell, and in areas surrounding the Tularosa Valley in south central
New Mexico. 45 Additionally, 30 dummies were dropped by aircraft over White
Sands Proving Ground, N.M. in 1953. In 1959,150 dummies were dropped by
aircraft over Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio (possibly accounting for alleged alien
"sightings" at that location). 4(,
23
 Anthropomorphic Dummy Launch
and Landing Locations

NEW MEXICO

"Crash Site" 2
(Approx. 175 m i.
NW of Roswell) SW~I []J
@i
alker AFBm
rmerly Roswell AAF)

Anthropomorphic D ummy Launch Locations

o Anthropomorphic Dummy La ndin g Locations

Locations approximate; numbers within symbo ls

correspond to listi ng of location s fo und in A ppendix A

Source: Test records of U.S. Air Force aeromedica l project no . 7218 ,

task 71719 (HIGH DIVE) and project no. 7222, task 71 748 (EXCELSIOR).

24
 A number of these launch and recovery locations were in the areas where the
'crashed saucer" and "space aliens" were allegedly observed.
Following the series of dummy tests, a human subject, test
pilot Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr., now a retired Colonel, made three
parachute jump. from high altitude balloons. Since free -fall tests from
these unprecedented altitudes were extremely hazardous they could
not be accomplished by a human until a rigorous testing program using
anthropomorphic dummies was completed.

Fig. 25. "Lord, take care of

me now," were Capt. Joseph
W. Kittinge r, Jr.'s wo rds as
he ex ited the EXCE LS IOR IJ[
balloon gondola at 102,800
feet on Augu st 16, J960, over
White Sands Proving Ground.
N .M. Kitti nger's courageous
scienti fic ach ievem ent
remains , to this day, the
highes t parachute jump
e e r accomplished.
(US. Ai,' Force photo)

25
 A Cover-Up?

Co un tering cl a ims of a cover-up, Air Force proj ects that used

an thro pomorph ic dummies a nd human subj ects were uncl assified and
wide ly pu blicized in n ume rous n ewsp aper and m agazine sto ries, books, and
te lev is ion re ports. T hese inc lu ded a book writte n by lest pilo t K ittinger,
The Long, Lonely L eap, anot he r boo k , Mall H igh , by M AN H lCiI-l P roj ect
Sc ient is t, L l. C ol. David G . Si m ons (MC) , a fe ature articl e in Na tional
Geographic, a nd cove r sto ries in Lif{!, Collier 's, Popu lar Mech anics,
a nd Tim e .47 A ch,lracterization of K ittinger's reco rd parachute j um p even F ig. 26. This photo of Cap t.
ap pea red in the adolescent ma gazine, MAD :~B The in te nse p ub lic intere st Jose ph W. Kittinge r .lr. ta ke n
by a re mo te ly operated ca mera
in H lCiH D IV E, E XCE LSIOR and othe r ae ro medical proje cts conducted at
on the E XCRSI OR []I gondol a.
Holloman AFB also resulted in a 1956 Twentieth C e ntury Fo x f ull -length was fe atured in the December
motion pic tu re , On the Th reshold o( Space (see p age 38). 1960 Na/ional Geograpizic.

The Long,
Lonely Leap
IVurld j j,igJ,tJI jump lest! a Jfff.V !rpt
parad:uu j"fJr hig.ll""(litillldl' .#),':1"3 d lUt _,(unti.Jb
rdurnmg f rum J/'(' I)J r~!hdlli. tJj SPIJ(~

B y C APT. JO .sf: l'H W. KITTfN{, ER. 1R. US Af'

l fl/</ .' I/'Jl io rl.\ b y ,,"flliul[(IJ (;' rr! t:mplrir
pllf)tor't'11pfl ':T l'O {J',:!I1iI R Wf:.'\ "rZ U ..

\IE RHI': AD ml IJ n lo!l ~w j}cl! Il; lII UI. Jt1 "'Pf.Cild it.tJCIU
O f(l{l.l d l ~i l1;l cle r :J.I(am" >l 1l Lu;k din-11 mI!' 8ky_ l\,-lo fe
!h ~ n lfPl~ rn ' k ~ bd"w lay (he d lJ udhHldt:.o :-':rw
l'' ' '' )::iC'o (k-~rrt to v, tli ch I .. hart l)' wou!d ~ ar~lt hu t c.
"illt ini( in my fotonduloil . v,-hkh ,,'t' ntly LW1dtd \\i1 b ,.h e hill-
loon " ~ 1{l\V Lll rn tn ~ . [ bad ~~ tln to ~ \V (';I{ Ii ~ h t l y. tIH.1U"h
th e If, mp;. ' r ' ttHr" rt.jlt! ,16" twl (,\', 7Y r O Fft hn"nhd l C,u n IT.ah.
tJ u!fl(:din Ull rn(.' U,nuer 1h ~ I.:JJ;!I.: o f ,\ (1 ;tl u min ll:(~n ;ul t~\:"la.n
c urtain wet th f(') lI~ h Illf' ~ o- nd{l la' " nvc-n door
( 11 my.' ,!! plj(I I H"; L r;j.c::~ till' \Coin.: O(Cillll. ~'1ari'ln h :ld
lOt ~ iri, um!' o f I-'Ur prQ.it- ct ~, t.wo dndoT'1i. (rt:irll lD"(lu u d ( lrrl ro!
.~tf llJ ll um alt Air FO rct! R8M':
'T hlT.t' (Ili lltdr '~ II!! j llll1 p. h e."
I W: L I"i' ml~- U, ~() . !o r mo-I\.' f'\=~'.Hl ': lhllilIlIU' . FIJ r ".IJb u t
an hou r - . (4~ Iht ha,1I1AHl fv:\c (ro m ~(\O()) to 101,l.OO ft~ l
.! bo\'t' S(' ;t 1,' \',,1- 1 linn hC(,1l expP-;;fff 10 an uH'iro n m(-nt rr -
4 11i tm~ til l' lJIute{' llbn (Jru I! r~A'u ", ~ Ll ll ru- u lll~lm d lld Uil'
re:v I'Ifthci r (I\ilu rr- hilt! u lw ;l\ ~ llt'(,1l !ueseJ'l t. f( (' l t h ~ ~llH U: d
lm:ftk , un l"l) n o;(' m lJ "i'I~"" ~','Oldd r o m ,' III W or 12 ,>~ con rl " ,
I1nd d c tUh \\Ij tlri n l w u Il,I i llU lC::!J
i Dour .l ltiIJ.Hk -{ h~ mlli;r n i hh b ;,\ 1 th-: lnb,lr;.I!<1n', I :J'\\' ilY.~

" Lour, tiJi:1: C ~l n.! {If lilt' ntJ'~." I I \ 'J. ~ . tl'\..n HIll!" Ilk hi -
~ 1"r l.pfJ Hu t 1".I~m " Uo_\ ' (du m (,nm till' tdJl" u.f ~P: 'd-, '.1
Li nlinll k . U. 1"1' 01111:1 phmp't- to llor l j1t.r1 h w r .p.,al in
I Inli\j! , '1 "".lu IlJo~ rr:l llHlarhoed '''n l ~ Pl'lrnr llu lqUof"Ii. U. 11: \

lrc- I link ",jll! Ihr ,:<JIlM I.II. II ~ ~ I l m~ r 1m .' , tnl'dJ

~l"'l j 1intu lJ fI dtu lr. 4h:,1 \l In " I.. n 11, [(lltlbr loH4 ... f tl n d
f)(,(-\t'nl horilfllltul ~phni(o ~ \\l t h'-" II tU\hi h; ~ ..m, 11\'"
t.ooJ.r J IklL, ,, ,.,, i\,: .j JU UI,I r!"flom Ihn" bi lt"h , dLihKl~
, \ :\xlf lll ~j ( ; ~ Irt-i4p! l k(";arn~m 111'"l1,u l1l', J.aI:,n\ " I1t'g' H"
4t)1i1 IIJ\Jk Ihl~ rI'tJlarl;'.d,k P ! I.~I OIl"fV ljli ., 1 IUJ,JIiUI' r!'Cl1
a54 " ,. . ..... tLlUof ........ v . ,""" " . ,

26
F ig. 27. ContempOra ry
magazines that featured
experiment at Holloman
AFB, .M . C lockwise from
lOp left, Time. September 12.
1955; Life, August 29, 1960:
Popular Mechanics ,WaRozine,
(c e nter) January 195 1;
Collier's, June 25 , 1954; and
L(fe. September 2. 1957.

===============a~~~=============

27
 Fig. 28. (Left) Witnesses at
Dummy Drop Procedures both flying saucer "crash"
sites stated th al a "wrecker"
For the majority of the tests, dummies were flown to altitudes wa~ used in the recovery of
between 30,000 and 98 ,000 feet attached to a pecial ly designed rack the "alie n" craft. This was
a likely re ference to the
suspended below a high altitude balloon. 49 On several flights the M-342 five-ton wrec ke r,
dummies were mounted in the door of an ex.peri mental high altitude used to launch and. recover
balloon gondola. so Upon reaching the desired altitude, the dummies were anthropomorphic dummies.

released and free -fe11 for several min utes before deployment of the main Fig. 29. (Right) Three tests
utili zed anthropomorphic
parachute. dummies mounted in the door
The dummies used for the balloon drops were outfitted with of an experimental Project H IGH
D IVE gondola. This launch took
standard equi pment of an Air Force aircrew member. Thi equipment place on October 8, 1957, in
consisted of a one-piece fli ghtsuit, olive drab, gray (witnesses had front of cur,i ous onlookers at
described seeing aliens in gray one-piece suits) or fu chsia in color, the public picnic area of White
Sands National Monument, N.M.
boots, and a parachute pack.s l The dummies were also fitted with an (U.S. Air Force photo)

28
Fig. 30. A "Sierra Sam" with
H IGH D IVE Project Officers I t
Lts . Eugene M. Schwartz (left)
and Raym o nd A . Mad son
(right ). This dummy is outfitted
in a "sage green " co lored
t1i ghtsuit (a shade of gray) with
red tape sealing its neck, wri sts,
and ankles. (U.S. Air Force )

29
instru mentation kit that contained accelerometers , pressure transducers,
an ocscillograph, and a camera to record moveme nts of the dummy
during free -fall.'"
Recoveries of the test dummies were accomplished by personnel
from the Holloman APB Balloon Branch.' 3 Typically, eight to twelve
civilian and military recovery personnel arrived at the site of an
anthropomorphic dummy landing as soon as possible follow ing impact.
The recovery crews operated a variety of aircraft and vehicles. These
included a wrecker, a six-by-six, a weapons carrier, and L-20 observation
and C-47 transport aircraft- the exact vehicles and aircraft described by
the witnesses as having been present at the crashed saucer locations. 54
On one occasion, j ust southwest of Roswell, a HIGH D IVE proj ect offlcer,
1st Lt. Raymond A. Madson, even conducted a search for dummies on
horsebacks, (see statement in Append ix B).
To expedite the recoveries , crews were prepositioned with their
vehicles along a paved highway in the area whe re impact was expected. 56

Fig. 31. An M-3 2 Iii-ton

cargo truc k commonly
referred to as a "six-by-six ,"
were used by the Holloman
Balloon Branch to launc h
and recover anthropomorphic
dummies and suspension
racks al numerou s locations
throughout New Mexico.
(U.S. Air FiJl-ce photo)

Fig. 32. M-37 %-ton utility

trucks, known as "weapons
carriers," were used for high
altitude ball oon recoveries by
the Holloman Balloon Branch
during the 19505. Here,
recovery technicians LIse an
M-37 to retrieve an Aero
Medical gondola from a location
on Holloman APB, N.M.
(U.s. Air Force photo)

30
 On a typical flight the dum mies were separated from the balloon by radio
command and descended by parachute. 57 Prompt recovery of the dummies
and their su pension racks, which usually did not land in the same location
resulting in extensive ground and air searches, was essential for researchers
to evaluate information collected by the instrumentation and cameras. To
assist the recovery personnel, a variety of methods were used to enhance
the visibility of the dummies: smoke grenades, pigment powder, and
brightly colored parachute canopies .58 Also, recovery notices promising
a $25 reward were taped to an exposed portion of a dummy. 59 Local
newspapers and radio stations were contacted when equipment was 10s1. 60

The Bravest Man

America wa . introd uced to Col. John Paul Stapp on December 10,
1954, wh en he bec ame known as both the "the bravest" and "the fa test"
man on earth. Stapp earned these titles fo llowing a rocket sled tes t th at
acc elerated him to 63 2 mil es per hou r. He reached this speed in j ust five
seconds- faster tha n a .45 caliber bullet-and was decelerated to a stop in
L.4 seconds. subj cting his body to mor than 42 ti mes the force of gravity'
Wh ile this was America-s introd uction to Co l. Stap p, the 1954 rocket sled
test that ex amined airc raft res traint devices and human responses to
accelerative/d ec lerative force s and win dbl ast, was just one o f many
ach ieve me nts of th is lege ndary Air Force physician .
Born in Bahia. B razil to Ameri can mis ionary parents. Stapp sold
pots an d pans door to door duri ng the Depress ion while he earned both
undergraduate and gradu ate degrees in zoology and chemistry at Baylor
University. He went on to earn a doctorate in biophysics from the University
of Texas. and a doctora te in medici ne fro m the Univers ity of Minnesota .
In 1944 Stapp entered the U. S. Army Air Forces a nd became a fl ight
surgeon. From 1946 to 1963, due to his unique qualifications in bioph ysic~;
and medici ne, he conducted a . eries of acceleration/decel eration experiments
on the high- peed track at Muroc (now Edwards AFB ). Calie,!" and later al
Hollo ma n AFB, N.M. De e lopmen ts from these and olh r studies reoulted

Fig. 33. The first "space doctor,"

LL Col. John P. Stapp (noll' a
retired Colonel) being strapped
into the rocket sled Sonic Wi nd
Nu I, on Dece mber 10, 1954,
at Holloman A B, N .M.
Courageo usly, tapp was hi s
own volun teer subject on 29
rocket sled tests and earned
two award s of the Legion of
Meri t and the C heney Award
for valor and self-sacrifi ce.
(U.S. Air Force photo)

31
in innovations which have saved many lives . These included improv d
saf ty belt restra in t systems and des ign specificalio ns for ai rc ra ft and
automobiles, aircraft ej ection and emergency escape sy t m ~, refinem ent of
automobile airbag systems, and development of the modern anthropo morp hic
lest dummy.
As commander of the U.S. Air Force Aeromedical Fiel d Laboratory
at Holloman AFB , N.M . and later the Aero Medi cal Laboratory at Wri ghl-
Patterson AFB, Ohio, Stapp won support fo r the Air Fo rce manned high
altitude balloons projec ts- MAN H IGH and EXCELSIOR . As a testament to his
thorough "afety preparations, these and other extrem ly hazardous projects
administered by Stapp, did not reoult in a s ingle debilitating inj ury to a te t
subj ect. These projects helped pave the way fo r fu ture fli ghts of both hi gh
altitude aircraft such as the X- IS , and of spacecraft for the MERC RY, G EMINI,
and A pOLLO programs. In fact, Stapp's expeni!\e was called upon to ass ist in
the selection of the initial cadre of astronau ts, the "MERC URY Seven."
He retired from the Air Force in 1970, but not before am ass ing a
collection of awards and honors . These included two awards of the Leg ion
of Merit for rocket sled xperi ments. the Cheney Award for 1954 and
member hip in the National Aviation Hal l o f Fame .
In association with the Society of Au to motive E ngin eers, S tapp
continues to participate in annua l conferen ces in which industry experts
assemble to djscll s veh icle safety iss ues . The confere nces, now in their
40th year bear his name: the Slapp Car Crash Conferences.
In 199 J. in recogn ition of a lifetime of unselfish dedication to
scientific research. Stap p was awarded the Natio nal Medal of Techn ology,
bestowed upon him at the White House by Pres ident George B Lish .
He is married [0 the former Lil lian Lanese. a f ormer soloi st wi th
the Ballet Theate r of New Yo rk. and res ide in Ala mogordo, N.M. At 87
years old he continue to maintain a dizzying pace of trave l and lectur S.
It is not an exaggeralion that virtual ly every person who has safely
operated. or ridden in. an automobile, aircraft, or spacecraft, bas benefited
from the genius of Col. John Paul Stapp. and owes this brave scientist,
physician. and visionary. a great deal of thanks.

Fi g. 34. September 12, 1955

edition of Time fea turing Col.
John P. Stapp and his rocket
sled experiments at Holloman
AFB. N .M .

32
 Despite these efforts, the dummies were not always recovered
immediately; one was not found for nearly three years and several
were not recovered at al1. 62 When they were found, the dummies and
instrumenlation were often damaged from impact. 63 Damage to the
dummies included loss of heads, arms, legs and fingers.64 This detail
dummies with missing fingers, appears to satisfy another element of the
research profile- aliens with only four fingers.

Fig. 35. Rough treat men t

a nd parachute failure s during
balloon drops often caused
damage to the hands of the
dummi es. This detail, "beings"
with " four fingers." was
rel ated by two witnesses as a
distinguishing feature of the
Roswell aliens.
( U.s. Air Force phoro)

33
 Pigs. 36-38. Actual
photographs of an A ld erson
Laboratories type
an thropomorphi c d umm y
fa llin g away from its
s uspe ns io n rack at high
altit ud e over New Mexico.
Fig. 37 (center) appears on
the cove r of thi . pub li ca ti o n.
(U. S. Air Force photos)

toss of M!I Equipmllllt

',;COSS-22 ;,CRDII-4 19 Jan 56
A'I'l:i. !-tr. R.L. Mo.eon Lt . NieLaon/ 1ba
~. 2- 4194/B.J3
1. On 17 November 1955. sn anthropomorpbio c1WIIIIJ. 11-1.5 j ackDt end a atDIl vateh
vera lost during a big." al t1 tudo dUllllllY drop from a balloon At Hollaman Air 'Force Base.
Nev Mexico.

:? Tho drop """ performed to c1etendne tl4a effect!Yaness of .. wo s t~ge

personne l l'''r!!chuta 1n lDvoring a =-llkv 4'liliiii1' tram 85\ 000 feet. The t e st "aa p.rt
of a conti nuing task '!iit;h .uti tude Zacepe Studi8B'. 7218-71719 . 'Ills po1nt at ...bien
tho liu;:;roy roached the ground vall not !ccavn to the recoYali' cr INS st the Umo and an ex-
taMi va ,,,.. reb lallting through t be t1r.st ,,"II: 01' December 1955 failed to discovar t be
10llt 1tems.

a. 1 ...... c11111111f. anthropomorpbic, Si Ol'nl El:\Billeering Co. modal 120, a tock

1lO. 3500~300l0.

b. 1 ea Jacket, 11-.5. spea. ~20, sue 36, stock 1lO. 8415-269-0512 .

c. 1 ea., stop' vatell, Plaller Sci.nUllc Co. pIN 14-646 . s teak no. 8XAA
~5 45,

4. Becl!Wle or the 1081S 01' these items as a result tIL a test, it b requosted
thot Lt. H8Dl7 P. N1eLaen be reUeT8c1 of the rellJlOuibllity for these items.

Fig. 39. Memo tak e n from

Project H IGII DIV E files
exp lain ing the loss of a
dummy near Roswell. N.M.
In o ve mber 1955.

34
 What may have contributed to a misundersta ndi ng if the
dummies were vi wed by pe rsons unfamiliar with their intended
use, were the methods used by Hollo man AFB person nel to transport
them. The dumm ies were so me times tra nsported to and from off-
range locations in wooden shipping containers similar to caskets .
to preve nt damage to fra gile instruments mounted in and on the
du mmy. 6s Al so, can a mil itary stretchers and hospita l gurneys were
used (a proced ure recommend ed by a dummy manufacturer) (Q move
the dum m ies in the laboratory or retrieve dummies in the field after
a te st. 66 The first 10 dummy drops also utilized black or silver
insulation bags similar to " body bags" in which the d ummies were
placed for fligh t to guard against equipment failure at low amb ient
temperat ures of th e upper atm osphere. 67

Fig. 40. Air Force personnel

used stretchers and gurneys to
pick up 200-pound dummies
in the tield and to move them
in the labonltory.
(U.S. Ai,. Force photo)

35
 Fig . 41. Forthe tlrst I ()
balloon flights, dummies
were placed in insulation
bags to protect temperature-
sensitive equipment.
T hese bags may have been
described by at least one
witness a. "body bags" used
to recover alien victim s from
the crash of a fl ying saucer.
(US. Air Force photo)

On one occasion northwest of Roswell, a local woman

unfamiliar with the test activi ties arrived at a dummy landing site
prior to the arrival of the recovery personn el. 68 The woman saw
what appeared to be a human embedded head f ir st in a snowbank and
became hysterical. The woman screamed, He's dead! he's dead!"69
It now appeared that anthropomorphic dum mies dropped
by high altitu de balloons satisfied the req uirements of the re search
profile. However, the review of high al titude ball oon operations
revealed what appeared to be explanatio ns fo r some other sightin gs
of odd objects in the deserts and skies of Ne w Mexico.

WADe TECHNICAL I'I EPORT 57-"77 err)

WADe TECHNICAL REPORT J1177
l'o\R't l.
AffI'l A OOCUBLB T No. AD 13091$.3

HIGH AlTITUDE BAllOON DUMMY DROPS

II: THi iTAIWUD DUMNlY ~
PAIT I. THE UNnAIlUZID DUMMY DIOPI

It\nw~w ,I, )/,\Oso.\', )liT/LT, USA,F

u r I! SiI,IfP-OflT ,HSTf.'d3 L..UOll!.TOp.r

M~H W'\ CE UE iJ1CM" WIIOR-iTOny

KAY":I0NV .1.. MAOSO N, I.lF LT, USAP

~.

F igs. 42 & 43. These repOits

W'lUGHT AIR DEVELOPMBNT
detailed the methods and
procedures used for th e
AERO~.HmCA L SYSTI:;\IS Dr\i15"ION
Ct:~'rfER ,\[R 'fORCE SYSTEMS COMM AND dummy te ts. T hey may be
UN11n> snn:s AlR P'ORCf
WlUCHTP,HTERSON Am FORCE BASI::. mHO obtained from the National
Technical Information Service
(NTiS ), Springfield , Va.

36
 1.3
High Altitude Balloon Operations
Research has shown that many high al titude balloons launched
from Honoman AFB, N.M., were recovered in locations, and under
circumstances, that strongly resemble those described by UFO proponents
as the recovery of a "flying saucer" and "alien" crew. When these
descriptions were carefully examined, it was clear that they bore more
than just a resembl ance to Ai r Force activities. It appears that some
were actually distorted references to Air Force personnel and equipment
engaged in scientific study through the use of bigh altitude balloons.
Since 1947 , U.S. Air Force research organizations at Holloman
AFB, N.M., have launched and recovered approximately 2,500 high
altitude balloons. The Air Force organization that conducted most of
these activities, the Holloman Balloon Branch, launched a wide range of
sophisticated, and from most perspectives, odd looking equipment in to
the stratosphere above New Mexico . In fact, the very first high altitude
data gathering balloon fli ght launched from Al amogordo Army Airfield
(now Holloman AFB), N.M ., on Ju ne 4, 1947 , was found by the rancher
and was the first of many unrelated events now collectively known as the
"Roswell Incident."

Fig. 44. Intlation of a U.S.

Air Force 626 ft. lon g, 34. 6
million cu. f1. research balloon
on August 13, 1972. This
balloon was launched from
Roswell Indll5trial Air Center
( formerl y Roswell AA F ),
Roswell , N.M ., to Les t
components of the NASA
VIKING space prObe.
(ph oto by Ole ]orgeson )

37
 On the Threshold of Space
In 1956. Twentielh Century Fox released On the Threshold oj Space,
a full-length motion picture based on Air Force aero medical projects
conducted at Holloman Af<13, N.M. Stan'ing Guy Madison, John Hodiak,
and Dean Jagger, this drama chronicled the high alti tude balloon experiments
of projects HIGH DivE/ExCELSIOR and the high-speed track studies conducted
by Col. John P. Stapp. Filmed on location at Holloman AFB. Air Force
personnel. high altitude balloons, aircraft. vehicles, and other equipment,
including the actual anthropomorphic dummies responsible for sightings of
aliens, were used in the making of this film.
In an ironic twist, in 1990 tbe television program Unsolved Mysteries,
featured a segment on the Roswell Incident. The program. hosted by actor
Robert Stack, depicted a dramatized version of the claims of "aliens;' space Fig . 45. Lobby card of the
J 95 6 Twentieth Ce ntury Fox
ships and mysterious government recovery crews. Intere tingly, a rev iew
release. 01/ !h e Threshold of
of newspapers Crom 1956 announcing the Hollywood premiere of all the Spa ce starring Gu y Mad ison
Thresho ld of Space, listed Slack among the persons scheduled l attend this (s eared) ancl Mmtin Mil ner
star-studded event. 71~ ( rigfll).

VIRGINIA
lE1TH'
10H
HODIAK

38
Fig. 46. Publicity photograph
from 011 th e Threshold of
Space with (fiY)mleft) Cameron
Mi tche ll , Guy Madison and
Dea n Jagger. Scenes li'om the
mo vie clearl y depiclthe actu al
anthropomorphic du mmi es
described nearly 40 years laler
a~ xtraterreSlrial "al ien . :'

F ig. 47 . Col. J. P. Stapp 's

historic 1954 rock l 51 d tesl
was re-created for 011 the
Threshold oj" Space (see jiJ:!,u re
33, page 31).

39
High Altitude Polyethylene Research Balloons
In 1946, as a result of research conducted for proj ect M OGUL,
Charles B. Moore, a New York University graduate student working under
contract for the U. S. Army Air Forces, made a significant technological
discovery: the use of polyethylene for high altitude balloon construction. 7 !
Polyethylene is a lightweight plastic that can withstand stresses of a high
altitude environment that differed drastically from, and greatly exceeded,
the capabilities of standard rubber weather balloons used previously.
Moore's discovery was a breakthrough in technology. For the first time,
scientists were able to make detailed, sustained studies of the upper
atmosphere . Polyethylene balloons, first produced in 1947 for Project
MOGUL, are still widely used today for a host of scientific applications.
High altitude polyethylene balloons and standard rubber
weather balloons differ greatly in size, construction, and utility. The
difference between these two types of balloons historically has been the
subject of misunderstandings in that the term "weather balloon" is often
used to describe both types of balloons.
High altitude polyethylene balloons are used to transport scientific
payloads of several pounds to several tons to altitudes of nearly 200,000 feet.
Polyethylene balloons do not increase in size and burst with increases in
volume as they rise, as do standard rubber weather balloons. They are
launched with excess capacity to accommodate the increase in volume. This
characteristic of polyethylene balloons makes them substantially more stable
than rubber weather balloons and capable of sustained constant level flight, a
requirement for most scientific applications.
The initial polyethylene balloons had diameters of only seven
fe et and carried payload s of five pounds or less. n As balloon technology
advanced , payload capacities and sizes of balloons increased. Modern
polyethylene balloons, some as long as several football fields when on

Raven lr:1dustries 40 million

cubic foot balloon. 450 ft in
diameter at 130,000 feet

Fig. 48. Re lative sizes

of a modern high altitude
poyethelyne research
balloon, an airliner, and a
hot-ai r balloon. Inaccurate
characterizations of the
DC-9 airliner Hot -air balloon. giant high altitude research
104 ft long 50 ft in diameter baBoons as "weather baliloons"
(which are typically 15 feet
in diameter) has historically
been the source of confusion .
(coll rtes)' uIMike Smith ,
Raven Industries)

40
the ground, expand at altitude to volumes large enough to contain many
jet airliners. Pol yethylene balloons flown by the U. S. Air Force have
reached altitudes of 170,000 feet and lifted payloads of 15,000 pounds. 73
During the late 1940's and 1950's, a characteristic associated
with the large newl y invented, polyethylene balloons, was that they were
often misidentified as flyin g saucers. 74 During this period, polyethylene
balloons launched from Hol1oman AFB, generated flying saucer reports
on nearly every flight. 75 There were so many reports that police,
broadcast radio, and new spaper accounts of these sightings were used by
Holloman technicians to supplement earl y balloon tracking techniques. 76
Balloons launched at Holloman AFB generated an especially high number
of reports due to the excellent visibility in the New Mexico region. Also,
the balloon, flow n at altitudes of approximately 100,000 feet, were
illuminated befo re the earth during the periods j ust after sunset and just
before sunrise. In this instance, receiving sunlight before the earth, the
plastic balloons appeared as large bright objects against a dark sky. Also,
with the refractive and translucent qualities of polyethylene, the balloons
appeared to change color, size, and shape.
The large balloons generated UFO reports based on their
radar tracks.77 This was due to large metallic payloads that weighed
up to several tons and echoed radar returns not usually associated with
balloons. In later years, balloons were equipped with altitude and
position reporting transponders and strobe lights that greatly diminished
the numbers of both visual and radar UFO sightings.
One classic misidentification of a Holloman balloon that was
mistaken for a UFO, was launched on October 27,1953. 78 According
to the following account published in a widely distributed 1958 history
of Air Force balloon operations, Contributions of Balloon Operations to
Research and Development at the Air Force Missile Development Center
Holloman Air Force Base, N. Mex. 194 7-1958, a suspected Holloman
balloon was tracked both visually and by radar over London, England
on November 3, 1953.
"English accounts of the incident contained such statements
as 'tremendous speed,' ' practically motionless,' 'circular or spherical
and white in color,' ' emitting or reflecting a fierce light.' Altitude was
reported as 61 ,000 fe et- and as no research balloon had recentl y been
sent up from Britain, there was ample room for local saucer enthusiasts to
claim the 'unidentified flyin g object' as proof of their theories. A much
likelier explanation , however, is that this was reall y the balloon launched
from Holloman on 27 October."79

High Altitude Balloon Payloads

Over the years, payloads transported by high altitude
polyethylene balloons ranged from si mple radio transmitters to
anthropomorphic dummies to sophisticated satellite components and
NASA interplanetary space probes. Many of these payloads, some of

41
which weighed many tons, were not what someone would typically
envision as being associated with a balloon. Examp les of payloads flo wn
in New Mexico by Air Force high altitude balloons can be found on pages
52 and 53 at the end of this section.
Research projects of the late 1940's and 1950's conducted at
Holloman AFB which began with the Project MOGUL flights in June 1947,
covered a wide spectrum of scientific research. One important experiment
in space biology measured the effects of exposure to cosmic ray particles
on living tissues. so Other projects gathered meteorological data and
collected air samples to determine the composition of the atmospbere.8 1
The first high altitude photographic reconnais~ance project, a forerunner
to today's reconnaissance satellites, Project 119L, also used high altitude
balloons launched at Holloman AFB.82
As early a, May 1948, polyethy lene balloons coated or laminated
with aluminwn were flown from Holloman AFB and the surrounding
area.8) Beginning in August 1955, large numbers of these balloons were
flown as targets in the development of radar guided air to air missiles. 84
Various accounts of the "Roswell InCident" often described thin, metal-like
materials that when wadded into a ball, returned to their original shape.
These accounts are consistent with the properties of polyethylene balloons
laminated with aluminum. These balloons were typically launched from
points west of the White Sands Proving Ground, floated over the range
as targets, and descended in the areas northeast of White Sands Proving
Ground where the "strange" materials were allegedly found.
In 1958 the first manned stratospheric balloon flights were
made from Holloman AFB (see page 102). In 1960, balloon tests of
components of the first U. S. reconnaissance satellite were also flown at
Holloman AFB. In the 1960's, 70 's, and 80'. high altitude balloons were
used in support of Air Force, and other U.S. Government and university
sponsored research projects. Instrument testing of atmospheric entry
vehicles for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
space probes is one prominent example.

Fig. 49. Ho lloman Ba ll oon

Branch pe rsonnel pre pare
a po lyethelyne balloo n
lam in ated it h al uminum
to serve as a target fo r rad ar
g uided missiles o ver White
Sunds Proving Ground, N. M.
(U. S. Air Force photu)

42
 ==============~
== F=
- ============

High Altitude Balloons and America's First Satellite

An illustration of the important contributions of the Holloman AFB
Balloon Branch, and the necessity for a rapid recovery of a high altitude
balloon payload, were evaluations of components of the firsl U.S. satellite-
based reconnaissance system, code named CORONA .
The Soviet Union had already beaten the U.S , into space with the
launch and orbit of SPUTNIK Ion October 4, 1957 . The next achievement in
the que. t ror space superio lity were the physical recovery of a payload that
had been in orbit. R5 The DISCOVERER satellite, the sensor used in the CORONA
program, was to be propelled into orbit and then eject a capsule containing
an American flag to enable the U.S . to clrum this hono r. '~
The DISCOVERER program had been plagued by fai lure with 10
unsuccessful missions in 1959 and 1960. With the eyes of the nation
watching. and the Soviets testing a simdar system, more failures could not
be tolerated. To test the raulty components of the DISCOVERER, U.S. Air
Force high allitude balloons at Holloman AFB were determined to be the
010 t expedient method of conducting the evaluations.
In April 1960, DISCOVeRER Xl , on the launch pad at Vandenberg AFB,
Calif., was put into a hold pending results of the balloon testsY The first
test at Holloman AFB on Apri l 5th was unsatisfactory due to a parachute
failure. M On April 81h. with pres ure mounting, the Balloon Branch
launched another balloon with the DISCOVERER capsule. This test, in wh ich
the capsule was dropped over White Sands Missile Range and recovered
immediately, was a total sLiccess.RI) The result were relayed by telephone
rrom the Balloon Co ntrol enter at Holloman AFB to the launch pad at
Vandenberg AFB where the countdown resumed,9{) Despite the !>uccessful
balloon drop, DrscovERER XI and DISCOVERER XII were failures 9 1 Therefore,
balloon testing continued throughout the summer of 1960.

Fig. SO . (Lefi). A Holloman

Balloon Branch launch crew
pre pares a nosecone of the
D ISCOVER ER 'atellite for a
high altitude bal loon f'li oht at
Holloman AFB, N.M. in April
J 960. (U.S. A ir F()rcI! photo )
Fig, 51. (Right). A U.S, avy
helicopter aboard the USS
Haiti Victory is shown here
with the capsule from the
D ISCOVERER XIfI sate ll ite, It
was recovered from the Pacific
Ocean 330 miles northwest of
Hawaii on Aug ust J 1, 1960,
(U.s. Air Force photo)

43
 FinaUy, on August 11,1960, D ISCOVERER XIII successfu lly
ejected a capsule and, am id m uch fa nfare, the fir t recovery of a
manmade object that had orbi ted the earth was accompl ished. 92
This first successful miss ion of an Americ an. atell ite , made
possi ble in part by Holloman AFB high altitude balloons, enabled
the U.S. to beat th e Soviets and claim the honor of the first space
rec overy by on ly nine day s.9J

The S URVEYOR (Moon), VOYAGER-MARS (Mars), VIKING (Mars ).

PIONEER (Venus). and GALILEO (Jupiter) spacecraft were tested by Air
Force high altitude balloons before they were launched into space.
VIKING and VOYAGER-MARS Space Probes. Examples of
unusual payloads, not likely to be associated with balloons. were
qualification trials of NASA's VOYAGER -MARS and VIKrNG space probes.
Both of these spacecraft looked remarkably similar to the classic dome-
shaped "flying saucer."
In 1966-67 and 1972, eight of the UFO lookalikes were
launched by tbe Balloon Branch from the former Roswell Army Air
Field (now Roswell Industrial Air Center), N.M. 94 The spacecraft were
transported by Air Force balloons to altitudes above 100,000 feet and
released for a period of self-propelled, supersonic, free-flight prior to
Landing on tbe White Sands Missile Range. 95 While the origins of the
"RosweU" scenarios cannot be specifically traced to these vehicles,
their fl ying saucer-like appearance, and the fact that they were launched
exclusively from tbe original "Roswell Incident" location, leaves an
impression that perhaps these odd balloon payloads may have played
some role in the unclear and distorted stories of at least some of the
"Roswell" witnesses.

Fig. 52. A NASA V IK ING

space probe is rolled out of its
assemb ly building at Martin
Mariett a Corporation in
Denver, Colo. (NASA)

44
Fig. 53. (Above Left) The
aeroshcll of a NASA VOYAGER-
MA RS space probe j u. t prior to
launch aL Walker AFB. .M .
(fo rmerly Roswell AAF).
(U.S. Air Force photo )

Fig. 54. (Above Right) This

NASA VIKIKG flying saucer-
like space probe was test
flown by U. S. Air Force high
altitude balloons in 1972 at the
former Roswell Army Air
Field . (NASA)

F ig. 55. (Right) Following a

supersonic test flight in 1972,
a VIKI NG pace probe awaits
recovery at Wh ile Sands
Miss ile Range. N.M . (NASA)

Tethered Balloons. The Holloman Balloon Branch, in addition

to high altitude research activities, al 0 conducted low altitude tethered
balloon flights. It appears that descriptions of these balloons may have
become part of tbe "Roswell Incident:'
Most standard shaped tethered balloons are readily identified
when near the ground or when the tether is visible. Other experimental

45
tethered balloons are not so easily identified. During the 19608, Balloon
Branch personnel flew experimentally shaped tethered balloons from
deep canyons of central New Mexico. To a dista nt observer, from a
vantage point above the canyon rim, where the tether and ground anchors
are not vi 'ible, an experimental tethered balloon might lead some persons
to speculate as to the oddly shaped balloon's origin and purpose. One
design of a low altitude tethered balloon may have inspired at least
one account of an "alien" craft. In The Truth About the UFO Crash at
Roswell, the authors published a drawing of a crashed alien spaceship
allegedly based on a drawing given to them by an anon ymous witness. 96
When this drawing is compared to a phoLograph of an experimental
tethered balloon flown at Holloman AFB in March 1965. the similarities
are undeniable.97 The tethered balloon and the NASA space probes are
just two examples of the uncommon technologies that were flown in New
Mexico by the Holloman Balloon Branch.

Fig. 56. (Le./i) A drawing

from a popular UFO boo k, The
Truth About th e UFO Crash
at Roswell, de picts an alien
s pacecraft alle gedly drawn by
an anonymous witness. (The
Truth Aboutl!? e UFO C rash
al Roswell)

Fig. 57. (Right) A tethered

"Vee" balloon shown here
at Holloman AFB, .M . in
March 1965. This expelimcntal
balloon. is strikingly similar
to the 'alien" craft.
(U.S. Air Force photo)

Today, the Air Force maintains a reduced but still highly

capable high altitude balloon program at Holloman AFB. The Space
and Missile Command, Test and Evaluation Unit (SMC/TE, OL-AC)
represents the sole Department of Defense high alti tude research balloon
capability. The ability of a U.S. Air Force high altitude balloon to lift
a scientific payload to more than 100,000 feet, above 99 per cent of
the earth's atmosphere, for day at a time, presents a profoundly useful
scientific tool at a fraction of the cost of a space research platform.
Recent tests that utilized Holloman balloons included at mospheric
sampling and gravity measurement experiments, high altitude astronomic
studies, weapons systems evaluations, and gamma ray detection
experiments. While most tests continue to be launched from the permanent

46
 balloon launch facility at Holloman AFB U.S. Air Force balloon crews
have recently launched balloons from numerous field locations in the U.S.
(including two sites in Roswell), as well as Alaska, Panama, and Antarctica.

Fig. 58. P res nt members

o f the Hol loma n Balloo n
Branch in frOnl of the Ball oon
Ope rations Center, Bui lding
850. at Ho lloman AFB . .M ..
([m ill /eji) TSgt. Roger J.
Welch, Mr. Jo seph FumeroJa,
Mr. Alv in W. Hodges, Mr.
Jose ph Lon g~ horc, MSg l.
Ray A. Pitts. Sr. Amn. John
Witko p, and Mr. Harvey L.
Harti s. ( U. S. A ir Force photo )

Balloon and Payload Recoveries

UFO theorists support their claims of an extraordinary
OCCUlTence in the New Mexico desert by describing mysterious U.S.
military personnel, operating a variety of vehicles and aircraft that always
seem to arrive shortly after the crash of a "flying saucer." When carefully
scrutinized, the descriptions of the mystery crews, their equipment,
methods, and the aIeas where the recoveries allegedly occurred- in
targeted high altitude bal100n recovery area -indicates that Holloman
Balloon Branch activities were most likely responsible for the claims.
To successfully recover high altitude balloons, balloon
recovery technicians regularly ventured far from Holloman AFB. In most
instances the balloons and their scientific payloads were recovered from
predetermined recovery areas. The e regularly targeted areas, located in
Arizona, West Texas, and New Mexico, included the area surrounding
Roswell Ys From 1947 to the present, the Roswell area has been th site
of hundreds of balloon and payload recoveries (including those that
carried anthropomorphic dummies).99
The regularly targeted areas were the result of the evolution of
high altitude balloon control techniques developed at Holloman AFB. These
techniques were based on meteorological, geographical, and operational
conditions that exist in New Mexico. These factors, combined with ample
amoun ts of skill and experience of balloon controUers at Holloman AFB,
determined the impact points of Holloman high altitude balloons.

47
 Many of the procedures used to position Air Force balloons
are described in General Philosophy and Techniques of Balloon Control,
and Meteorological Aspects of Constant-Level Balloon Operations in the
Southwestern. United States, both by Bernard D. Gildenberg (see statement
in Appendix B). IOO Gildenberg served as the Holloman Balloon Branch
Meteorologist, Engineer, and Physical Science Administrator from 1951 until
1981. During this period, Gildenberg, a recognized world expert in upper
atmospheric wind patterns, pioneered methods to launch control track, and
recover high altitude balloons. Many of these methods are still used today
by the U.S . Air Force and by research organizations throughout the world.

Interaction with Civilians

In several accounts, unsubstantiated allegations have been made
that military personnel who retrieved equipment from fillal areas of New
Mexico intimidated and threatened civilians. Contrary to these charges,
Balloon Branch personnel enjoyed good relations with the local community
and often solicited their assistance in the area of a balloon or payload

Fig. 59. Bernard D . " Duke"

Gildenberg (center) Balloon
Branch M eteorolog ist. i
shown here in M ay 195 7
in front of the M AN H IGH I
gondo la. W ith G ildenberg
are M AN H IGH I pi lot Capt.
Jo sep h W. Kittinger, If.
(left), and MAN HIGH project
scientist/pilot. Lt. Co\. David
G . Simons (MC ). When
Gi ldenberg attempted to
inform UFO theorists that
high altitude balloon projects
were likely responsible for
some of the UFO c lai m " his
explanations were rejected,
see also pages 8 & 9.
(u. s. Air Force photo)

48
 landing. In the flat, featureless desert areas of southeastern New Mexico
near Roswell, the parachutes, payloads, the balloons themselves, and
circling chase aircraft often drew crowds of curious onlookers from the
local community. In fact, so many civilian s were often present at balloon
or payload landing si tes, the scene was described by longtime civ ilian
Balloon Branch recovery supervisor, Robert Blankenship, as bei ng like
the "circus coming to town." lUl
Allegation s that civil ians were threa tened or told to "forget what
they saw" are profoundl y inaccurate. Threats, intimidation, or other types
of misconduct by Balloon Branch personnel would have served no
purpose since without the cooperation of local persons, many recoveries
would not have been possible. ,02
Most balloon recoveries were coordinated in advance with local
law enforcement agencies. IO ) If a balloon or payload landed on private
property and the owner could not be located Balloon Branch operating
instructions dictated that the local sheriff or pol ice must be contacted. 104
In situations where local persons arrived at balloon landing si tes before the
recovery crews , they were simply asked to "step back" to allow recovery
personnel to secure the balloon equipment. 105 If these persons inquired as
to the purpose of a balloon flight, they were informed by technicians that it
was a U.S. Air Force scientifi c study and were given a telephone number at
Holloman APB if they required additional information. At Holloman AFB,
individuals qualified to answer detailed questions responded to these

Fig. 60. (Right) Th is ranch

fa mily assisted in the recovery
of a P roject STARGAZER high
altitude balloon payload and is
shown here with a panel from
the unmanned gondola.
(U.S. A ir Force photo)

49
inquiries. There was never a reason to mi. lead or threaten individuals
who observed balloon operations. Relations with local citizens were
good, and Balloon Branch per onnel and equipment were a common sight
to residents in areas with high incidences of balloon operations.
In a few instances, situations arose when persons not familiar with
the procedures and equipment used by the Balloon Branch misunderstood
their activities. Such misunderstandings occurred several Limes during the
1970s and 1980s when recovery crews not only attracted the attention of
local citizens while coordinating balloon recoveries, btlt also drew the
attention of federal law enforcement agencies. IO(}
Checks with the local sheriff reveaJed that the trucks and circling
aircraft in the desert near Roswell were part of a balloon recovery mission.
and not a drug smuggling operation. Apparently, balloon recoveries
appeared to be something suspiciolls even to federal agents.

Fig, 61 , A typical Holl oman

Balloon Branch recovery crew
is ~hown here with a man
known as 'T he hermit" who
ass isted them in a ball oon
recovery northwes t of Sil ver
Cit. N.M. in the 1960s,
(photo collection of Robert
Blan kenship)

Fig. 62, A mule (named Ida)

was bOiTowed from a local
rancher when a balloon payload
landed in difficult ten'ain 20
miles nOl1h of Wicke nburg,
Ariz, in October j 966,
(US. A ir Fo rce ph oto)

50
Fig. 63. On occasion, .".ir
Force balloon recovery crew
rented or botTowed equ.ipment
from local residents. This
bulldol.c r was rented for one
recovery In the Sacramento
moun tains west of Roswell.
(photo collection (~j'Robe,.r
Blankenship)

Fig. 64. Balloon Branch

vehicle at roadside cafe.
Thi s M-43 3/4-ton field
ambul ance, converted by the
Holloman Balloon Branch into
a commu nications vehicle ,
was a common sight in the
areas surrounding Roswell
during the 1950s and early
1960s. (photo collection of
Ole )orgeson)

51
 Figs . 65 & 66 . Ex amples of
un usual payloads flow n by Air
Force high altitude balloons
at Ho lloma n AFB, .M.
(U. s. Air Force photos)

52
Fig. 67. (Left) Thi s .S. Army
communications pay load was
flown at Holloman AFB, N .M.
on September 30 , J 976.
(U.S. Army photo)

Fig. 68. (Right) Pa yload

launched by an Air Force
high altitude balloon from
Holloman AFB , N . M . on
March 20, 1965. This payload
was a scientific ex periment for
The John Hopkins University
Astrophysics Laboratory.
(U.S. Air Force photo)

Fig. 69. High altitUde balloon

payload launched from Holloman
AfB on September 14, 1976.
(U.s. Ai,. Force photo)

53
 1.4
Comparison of Witnesses
Accounts to U.S. Air Force Activities
Were they aliens or dummies? This question can be answered by
comparing witness testimony and the Air Force projects of the 19508, HIGH
D IVE and EXCELSIOR. Both of these projects employed anthropomorphic
dummies fl own by high altitude balloons and appeared to satisfy the
requirements of the previously established research profile:

a. An ac tivity that if viewed from a distance would appear

unusual.
b. An acti vity fo r which the exact date was not likely to have
been known because many dummies were dropped over a six -
year period (195 3- 1959).
c. An activity that took place in many areas of rural New Mexico.
d. An acti vity that involved a type of aerial vehicle with dwnmjes
that had four fingers, were bald and wore one-piece gray suits.
e. An activity that required recovery by numerous military
personnel and an assortment of vehicles that included a wrecker,
a six-by- six, and a weapons carrier.

The testimon y used in the following comparison, an undocumented

mixture of firsthand and secondhand re-countings, are the actual statements,
not the interpretations of UFO proponents, that are presented to "prove"
the Earth was visited by extraterrestrial beings and the U .S. Air Force
has covered up this fact since 1947. This comparison is augmented by
references to photographs whenever possible to illustrate the undeniable
similarities between the description s provided by the witnesses and the
equipment and methods employed by the Air Force proj ects.

Fig . 70. Project HIGH DI VE

anthropomorphic dummy
laul1ch. (U. S. Air Force photo )

55
 "Crash" Site 1
(Allegedly North of Roswell)
This summarized account is tbe basis for the alleged "flying
saucer" crash site north of Roswell.' The exact location is not known
since the witness, Mr. James Ragsdale, in two separate sworn statement,
has described two different sites, many miles apart. J07 This account
was excerpted from an interview with Mr. Ragsdale by author Donald
Schmitt. A transcript of the complete interview is included in Appendix C.

The Account
James Ragsdale
"They was using dummies in those damned things "JO!<
Testimony attributed to Ragsdale, who is deceased, states that he
and a friend were camping one evening and saw something fall from the sky.
The next morning, when they went to investigate, they saw a crash site:
"One part [of the craft] was kind of buried in the ground and
one part of it was sticking our [out] of the ground." "I'm sure that [there]
was bodies ... either bodies or dummies.' "The federal government could
have been doing something they didn't want anyone to know what this
was. They was using dummies in those damned things ... they could use
remote control ... but it was either dummies or bodies or something laying
there. They looked like bodies. They were not very long ... [not] over four
or five foot long at the most." "We didn't see their faces or nothing like
that... we had j ust gotten to the site and the Army ... and all [was] coming
and we got into a damned jeep and took off."
This testimony tben describes an assortment of military vehicles
used to recover the "bodies": "It was two or three six-by-six Anny trucks a
wrecker and everything. Leading the pack wa a 47 Ford car with guys in
it... It was six or eigbt big trucks besides the pickup, weapons carriers and
stuff like that." Ragsdale also said that before be left the area he observed the
military personnel "gathering stuff up" and "they cleaned everything all up."
Assessment
In his testimony, Ragsdale made numerous references to
equipment, vehicles, and procedures consistent with documented
anthropomorphic dummy recoveries for projects HIGH DIVE and
E XCELSIOR. The repeated use of the term "dummy" and the witness'
own admission that ' they was using dummies in those damned
things" and "I'm sure that was bodies .. .either bod ies or dummies"

" In The Truth Ahout the UFO Crash at Roswell (Avo n Books, 1994, p. l3 L), the authors
provided a co rroborating acco unt for this tes timony fro m a 96 -year-old man who was in i ll
he alth. w ho se intervie w was not ta pe recorde d, an d ha since di ed . According to the book, the
man 's " wife and daughter said that he was easi ly confused" and "memories of hi s life were
j umbl ed an d reo rdered."

56
 leaves little doubt that what he described was an anthropomorphic
dummy recovery.
Based on testi mony attributed to this witness, the confusion
could have resulted from the fact that he observed these activities from a
distance. If the witness was even a short distance from the odd looking
anthropomorphic dummies, it would be logical for him to believe, when
interviewed 35 to 40 years after the event, that he "thought they were
dummies or bodies or something." Also, for some of the high altitude
drops, the dummies did not separate from the suspension rack and "rode
the rack" to the ground without deployment of a parachute. lo9 If the
parachutes of the dummies or parachutes of the rack assembly did not
deploy (a common occurrence during the early dummy drops) then they
free -fell from up to 98,000 feet. I10 As a result of these malfunctions, the
arms and legs of the dummies were often separated from the body on
impact. I,11 This may account for the witnes description of bodies [not]
'over four or five foot" tall.
Another portion of his testimony suggesting that the witness
observed an Air Force high altitude balloon and dummy recovery was the
statement: "The federal government could have been doing something
because they didn't want anyone to know what this was ... they was
using dummies in those damned things ... they could use remote control."
Balloon controllers used remote control to relay commands to the balloon
control package to valve gas and drop ballast. 112 The dummies themselves
were also dropped from the suspension rack by remote control. I13
The witness also described a Balloon Branch procedure that
required the area of a balloon or payload landing to be restored to its
original condition. It was evident in the statements "They cleaned
everything all up" and "They began gathering the stuff up ." Thoroughly
cleaning a balloon or dummy landing site and removing any debris

Fig. 7J. Nu merous vehicles

and var io us ty pes of
equ ipment , were often present
at high altitude ball oon and
an th ropomorphic dum my
launch and reco ery locations.
(photo collection of Ole
Jorgeson)

57
deposited there was a standard procedure to maintain good community relations
and avoid legal claim L'1 at could arise over property damages or livestock losses. I 14
Cattle were known to ingest scraps of polyethylene balloon material that sometimes
littered entire fields following a balloon failure or flight tennination. I IS
The military vehicles described were also consL tent with recovery and
communications vehicles used during the 1950s to retrieve anthropomorphic
dummies and suspension racks . 116 The witness stated he saw a "wrecker,"
a "six-by-six," a "weapons carrier," a "'47 Ford car," and a "pickup." The
"wrecker" was most likely a M-342 5-ton wrecker that was assigned to
the Balloon Branch for launch and recovery operations. I 17 Other vehicles
describ d were also the type used to launch and recover anthropomorphic
dummies. The "six-by-six" is a likely reference to a M-35 2 112-ton cargo
truck; "weapons carriers ' were the common name of a Dodge M-37 314-ton
utility truck. References to "the pickup" and a '''47 Ford car," were likely
descriptions of other civilian and military vehicles often present at high
altitude balloon launch and recovery locations.

"Crash" Site 2
(Allegedly 175 miles Northwest of Roswell)
This purported flying saucer "crash" site is allegedly 175 miles
northwest of Roswell in an area of New Mexico known as the San Agustin
Plains . ll8 The contention that a flying saucer crashed at thi s location and
was recovered by the U .S . military is supported by three principal
testimonies, two secondhand and one firsthand.

The Secondhand Accounts

These accounts were related by Mr. Vern Maltais and Ms. Alice
Knight, who were acquainted with the alleged original eyewitness, Mr.
Grady L. Barnett, who is deceased. Unless otherwise noted, the following
statements appeared on footage used to prepare a video, Recollections of
Roswell Part /1, by the The Fund for UFO Research (see Appendix C).
Alice Knight
"/ don't recall the date " /19
"I don't remember whether it was before my husband and I were
married or after, I don't recall the date . But he [the eyewitness] saw a
UFO fall ... and he got nearly to the site ... bu t tbey go t nearly up to the
UFO but it was close enough that you could see some creatures. He
said they didn ' t look like human be ings out there. And along came
government cars and trucks . 1 guess it was government. You k now it was
a long time ago ... and they told him to go on back and forget that they ever
saw anything, and that's all I recall."

58
 Assessment
This brief testimony suggests that the witness did not know
the date of thi s event. It also appears that the "creatures" were seen from
a distance, as evi denced by the statement, "They got nearly up to the
UFO but it was close enough that you could see some creatures." The
testimony also seems cons istent with a description of anthropomorphic
dummies as the witness stated they "didn't look like human beings ."
Vern Maltais
"Their heads were hairless... no eyebrows, no eyelashes, no hair"J20
This secondhand witness alleged that the eyewitness told him
he observed "beings" from a ''flying saucer that had burst open" that
were "about three and a half to four feet tall, very slim ... their heads were hairless,
with no eyebrows, no eyelashes, no hair" with " SOlt of a pear-shaped head." He
also related that "the beings were...not exactly like human beings ... similar but
not exactly." He described that the hands of the beings "were not covered" ...and
[they] only had "four fingers." He also related that the clothing of the beings
was "one-piece and gray in color" 121 The witnes concluded that "As they [the
witnesses] were just starting to look things over really closely. the military moved
in and gave them a briefing to not say anything about it."
Assessment
This description of events also indicates that the eyewitness
apparently did not closely examine the scene and was "j ust starting to look
things over" when the military arrived. As with the previous testimony, from
a distance the dummies were likely to look, as described by the witness, "not
exactly like humans ... similar but not exactly." The description of the flying
saucer that had "burst open" is a likely description of the dummy suspension
rack that was open on the sides (see figures 74, 75, 76). The detailed
descriptions of the "beings" as "about three and a half to four feet tall, very
slim in stature ... their heads were hairless, with no eyebrows, no eyeJashes,

Fig. 72. " Their heads were

hairless ... no eyebrows, no
eyelashes, no hair," a :l ikely
description of Alderson
Laboratories ty pe
anthrop om orphic dummy.
T hese Al derson dummies,
of the same type used for
Projects HIG H DlvE/EXCELSIOR,
were used to test NASAs
ApOLLO pacecraft three-man
couch at Holloman AFB, N. M.
in 1965 . (U.S. Air Force photo)

59
no hair, , with "hands that were not covered" and "had only four fingers,"
is a likely description of an Alderson Researc h Laboratories model
anthropomorphic dummy. The head of the Alderson dumm y was "bald"
and the area of the eyebrows protruded but had no "hair" (see figure 72).
Also, a distinguishing feature of the Alderson dummy, unlike the Sierra
dummy, was that it had individual fingers not covered by gloves that were
often damaged during the tests resulting in the loss of fingers (see figures
35, 73, 75).
Due to the secondhand nature of these accounts, even UFO
theorists were not convinced that this "incident" actually occurred.
Corroborating testimony of a 'firsthand witness was necessary to verify
these claims . The firsthand testimony is examined next.

The Firsthand Account

This testimony became part of the Roswell Incident in 1990
following an episode of the television program Unsolved Mysteries. 122
Following a dramatized re-creation on the program, persons with information
concerning this event were encouraged to call a special toll free telephone
number.
From the outset, some UFO theorists were skeptical of this
testimony due to the amount of detail provided from the witness who
was only five years old in 1947. In fact, UFO organizations sponsored a
conference in February 1992 to evaluate the testimony for authenticity. 123
The witness was asked to take a polygraph ex.amination, which he passed. 124
Many UFO enthusiasts remained keptical of the claims and denounced this
testimony as "no more than a fabrication." 125
Unless otherwise noted, two sources of testimony attributed to the
wItness have been used ill this exarrunatlOn; mtervlews used to prepare the
video Recollections of Roswell Part II by the Fund for UFO Research (see
Appendix C) and Crash at Corona by Don Berliner and Stanton Friedman
(passages from this book were used only when exact quotations of the
witness were indicated).
Gerald Anderson
"I thought they were plastic dolls... I didn't think they were real " 126
Anderson related that as a five-year-old boy on an outing with his
family in west central New Mexico, they stumbled upon the crash of
some type of aerial vehicle. 127 When he first saw the craft he thought
it was a "blimp." '28 According to Anderson he "didn' t really get very
close," '29 but thought he saw four bandaged crew members and at first
he "thought they were plastic dolls." 130 He also described attempts by
persons in his party to communicate with one of the "crewmembers." '3J
Soon after, other civilians arrived (some wearing pith helmets) followed
by military personnel in an assortment of vehicles and aircraft
commanded by a "redheaded captain.,, \32 The miIi tary personnel, after
"screaming and hollering" at the civilians "this is a military secret,"

60
started a recovery operation of the alien craft and crew. 133 Anderson
also recalled that the military personnel threatened some of the civilians
with imprisonment or death before escorting them out of the area. 134
Assessment
Anderson's choice of the tenns "blimp" to describe the crashed
vehicle, and "doll" to describe the "crew," strongly suggests that a balloon
with an anthropomorphic dummy payload was the foundation for this
testimony. He also provided an abundance of supporting details that accurately
described vehicles, aircraft, equipment, and procedures used by the Holloman
AFB Balloon Branch to launch and recover anthropomorphic dummies.
An aspect of this testimony that is not accurate is the alleged
threats and intimidation of civilians by military personnel. The use of such
heavy-handedness was not a tactic used by the Air Force. A careful review
of official records and interviews with numerous persons who actively
participated in and were responsible for the conduct of Air Force members on
high altitude balloon recovery operations revealed that these allegations are
untrue. 135 Additionally, the witness alleges that the military personnel were
"screaming and hollering" "this is a military secret." 136 This statement might
lead uninitiated persons to believe that the witness observed something
highly classified and that by telling everyone present that it was a "military
secret" would somehow help it to remain so. However, logic dictates that if
something was classified "screaming and hollering" it was "secret," would
compromise it and not serve to protect its classification. This application of
logic, combined with the fact that the launch and recovery of anthropomorphic
dummies was unclassified, widely publicized, and often observed by local
civilians, indicates that the witness' recollections are in error. There was
never a reason to disrespect, " scream," "holler," or forbid any person from
talking about the launch or recovery of anthropomorphic dummies.
The "Crewrnembers." The statement "I though t they were
plastic dolls" seems an odd choice of words to describe an extraterrestrial
being and is a likely reference to an anthropomorphic dummy whose skin
was made of plastic. 137 This description is similar to that of the sole witness
of the other crash site, north of Roswell, who described the "aliens" as
"dummies."138 Other references provided by this witness further indicate that
anthropomorphic dummies were the basis for these descriptions. The heads
of the "crewmembers" were described as "completely bald" with "no visible
ears ...just a rise ... and then a hole." '39 This is an accurate description of
Alderson Research Laboratories model dummies that did not have "hair" and
had either plastic "ears" molded to the head or a circular opening where a
"demountable ear" or additional instrumentation was attached (see fi gure
22).140 The statement "they didn't have a little finger," 141 a detail very similar
to one provided by another witness, also appears to be a description of
dummies manufactured by Alderson Laboratories that were often damaged
during the balloon tests resulting in the loss of fingers.
The assertion that "they were all wearing one-piece suits ... a shiny
silverish-gray color;' "trimmed in ... maroon-like cording"142 is a likely reference

61
to a standard issue, gray, Air Force flightsuit used to outfit the dummies and red
duct-type tape used in the tests that prevented air from filling the fligbtsuit (see
fig, 30), 143 The recollection that "crew members" had "bandages" 144 on their
bodies were likely references lo tape and nylon webbing used to prevent flailing

Fig. 73. "Some kind of

container, a metal box ," was
described as laying on the
ground near the alleged
aliens. This appears to be a
reference to boxes containing
electrical components of the
remote controlled systems
posi l! ioned on the top of the
dummy suspension rack.
(U.S. Air Force photo)

Fig. 74. "They looked

l ike they had s o me sor t
of bandages on 'em ... over
his ... arm ... aroun d hi s
midsection and pa rti ally
over his shoulder"- wi tnes s
description of tape and nylon
webbing used to prevent arms
and legs from flailing. and
parachute harness that had
chest and shoulder straps.
Tape was also used to secure
the removable back plate of
the head (also see figs. 29, 30,
73,75). (U.S. Air Force photo)

62
Fig, 75. "It's uniform was
torn in a cou ple spots ... their
unifo rms were in pretty sad
shape"-witnesses description
of secondhand flight suits that
were used repeatedly on tests;
tears and other damage we re
com mon, In thi s photo, l: t Lt.
Raymo nd A , M adson " ri gs" a
dummy to its us pension rack
for projec t HIGH D IV E at
H olloman AFB , N.M ,
(U.S, Air Force photo)

Fig. 76. A witness described

at le ast o ne pe rson at a
" crash" site wearin g a pith
helmet. In the 1950$. the pith
he lmet was part of the Ai r
Force unifo rm and was ofte n
worn on balloon launches and
recoverie s, In thi s publicity
photo from all the Threshold
o/Space, A ir Force members
at Holloman AFB who were
extras in the fi lm can be seen
wearing pi th helmets, (a lso
seefigure 49)

63
of a dummy's arms and legs during tests. 145 A reference to a bandage
"around his [the crewmember's] midsection and partially over his
shoulder"146 is a likely reference to the standard BA or B-5 parachute
with chest and shoulder straps worn by the durnmies. 147
The "Craft." In what appears to be a clear reference to a balloon,
was that when he saw the crashed vehicle he "thought it was a blimp." 148
Additional descriptions of cables that "went from one kind of a package
of components to another kind of package" and a "metal box" were likely
references to the balloon control package that was positioned on top of the
dummy suspension rack. 149 A further reference to a balloon payload is the
statement that on a hot New Mexico day the crashed vehicle was "ice cold,
it felt like it just came out of the freezer." ISO This accurately describes a
physical condition known as "cold soaking" common to high altitude
payloads that had recently been exposed to sub-zero temperatures of the
upper atmosphere.
Military Aircraft. The witness also described two aircraft of the
same type used for anthropomorphic dummy recoveries as having been
involved in the activity he witnessed. One aircraft was described as a "CAT '
and another as an "observation aircraft...a high-winged rurcraft." 151These
were a C-47 and a L-20 aircraft used extensively by the Balloon Branch
during the mid 1950s for tracking and recovering anthropomorphic dummy

Fig. 77. "An ob serv ation

a ircra ft. .. a high- w ing ed
ai rcraft"- a wi tness's probable
reference to a U.S. Ai r Force
L-20 aircraft u ed extensively by
Hollo man AFB crews to track
and recover anthropomorphic
dummies. ( U.s. Air Force photo)

J Fig . 78. Des c rjb~ d as present

at a fl yin g saucer "crash" site
was a C-47 aircraft. T his is
a probahl e reference to a U.S .
A ir Fo rce C -4 7 tra nsport
aircraft used to move
equipme nt to launch s ites
distant from H olloman AFB .
These aircraft were also used
for ae rial tracking of high
altitude ball oon fli g hts
incl udi ng tho se that flew
anthropomo rphic dummies.
(U.S. Air Fo rce phoro)

64
 balloon flights. 152 This testimony also described aircraft that were typically
overhead during a recovery and an established procedure of landing on a rural
road or in a field to reach isolated balloon launch or recovery locations. 153
Military Vehicles. Numerous military velucles, several of which were
described by other witnesses as having been at the other crash site north of Roswell,
were also described. Witnesses at the two different sites described a ''wrecker'' and a
"six-by-six:' both of the type used for anthropomorphic dummy recoveries.!54 The
account also described two vehicles unique to the Balloon Branch that were used for
the majority of high altitude balloon recoveries during the mid-to late-1950s.
The witness described a 'jeep-like truck that had a bunch of radios
in it" ... There was a guy sittin' in there wearin' earphones and he was talking on
the radio." 155 This is a likely description of a Dodge M-37 314-ton utility truck,
known as a weapons carrier, that had been specially modified to carry radio
equipment for balloon recovery operations. The Holloman APB Balloon Branch
modified these vehicles in 1953, lUling out the possibility that the witness
observed them in 1947, when such vehicles were not available to organizations
pelforming balloon operations. 156 The other vehicle described and used by the
Balloon Branch were "military ambulances." ls7 During the mid-l 950s, the
Balloon Branch modified three M-43 3/4-ton ambulances for use as balloon
recovery and communications vehicles. ISS These vehicles were used for
anthropomorphic dummy launch and recovery missions to relay messages to
circling recovery aircraft and the balloon operations center at Holloman AFB. 159
The witness aL"iO described "a trailer with a motor on it, like a generator." I 60 Till
is a likely description of a 1 112-ton cargo trailer with an MB-19 IS Kilowatt
diesel generator. These generators were used primarily on balloon launch sites
during the 1950s and 1960s (see fig. 71 ).
Balloon Branch Procedures. Descriptions of military personnel
"stretching stuff out on the ground, dragging stuff out of trucks"16 ! is a
likely description of a balloon launch procedure that required the fragile

Fi g. 79. "Stretching stuff out

on lh groun d, dragging stuff
out of truc k.~"-a likely witness
reference to high al titude
balloon in fl ation procedure
that required the balloon to be
stretched out on a protecti ve
ground cloth prior to intlation.
(U.S. Air Force pllOlO)

65
polyethylene balloon and its protective ground cloth to be removed from
a launch vehicle and laid oul on the ground prior to ini1ation . Another
procedure described by the witnes was an apparent reference to a balloon
recovery practice of recording the names of civilians who observed high
altitude balloon recoveries. 16- The witness stated that military personnel
, took everybody's name and every thing," 163 which was a procedure to
ensure payment of a $25 dollar reward to persons who assisted in the
recovery. This procedure was also necessary to settle future claims of
property damage caused by the balloon, payload, or recovery vehi cles. 1M Fig. 80. Witnesses desc ribed
a " tanker," " mil itary
ambulances," a "6x6 ," and
a " wrecker"-probable
re fe rences to (ji'om left) a
he lium tank lra i lec a M -43
ambulance (con erted lo a
commu nicati ons vehicle), a
M -35 cargo truck (pa rti a lly
obscu red) , and a M -3 4 2
wrecker. These vehicles were
used for off-range launc h
and recovery operations of
anthorpomorphic dummies for
Project HIGH DIVE/ E x CELS IOR.
Shown here is a May 29. 1957
dunun y launch near Hatch. .M.
(also seejigs. 23, 28, 64, 71, 8f).
(U.S. Air Force plioto)

Fig. 81. Scene typical of a

mid- to late 1950s off-range
hi gh alIi tude balloon launch.
(U.S. Air Force ph oto)

66
 Summary
When the claims offered by UFO theorists to prove that an
extraterrestrial spaceship and crew crashed and were recovered by the U.S.
Air Force are compared to documented Air Force activities, it is reasonable
to conclude, with a high degree of certainty, that the two "crashes' were
actually descriptions of a launch or recovery of a high altitude balloon and
anthropomorphic dummies . This conclusion was based on the remarkable
similarities and independent corroboration between the witnesses who
described both of the "cra h sites." Statements such as "they was using
dummies in those damned things" and a characterization of the crashed
vehicle as, "I thought it was a blimp" are two of the many similarities. The
extensive detailed descriptions provided by the witnesses, too numerous to
be coincidental, were of the equipment, vehicles, procedures and personnel
of the Air Force research organizations who conducted the scientific
experiments HrGH DrvE and EXCELSIOR.
Though it is clear anthropomorphk dummies were responsible
for these accounts, the specific location of the events described was
difficult, if not impossible, to determ ine since the witnesses were not
specific. A witness to the "crash site" north of Rosw 11, Mr. James Ragsdale,
was not certain of the actual location as videnced by a change in his sworn
,
teetimony that moved the site many miles from its originallocation. r,5
How ver, since Ragsdale reportedly lived or worked in the
Roswell, Artesia, and Carlsbad, N.M. areas during the period when the
dummies were used, it is likely he described one or more of the nine
documented dummy recoveries in areas near there.
Reports of the other crash site, allegedly 175 miles northwest of
Roswell on the San Agustin Plains, is likely based on descriptions of more than
one launch and recovery of anthropomorphic dummies . Since one witness,
Gerald Anderson, described procedures consistent with the launch and
recovery of high altitude balloons, it is likely that he witnessed both of these
activities, with at least one that included an anthropomorphic dummy payload.
The two secondhand witnesses to this "crash," Vern Maltais and
Alice Knight, could have related descriptions from any of the dununy launch
or landing sites. However, Maltais and Knight repeatedly described the
impact location of the flying saucer as on the San Agustin Plains. One
possible explanation is that the witnesses, in the 30 or more years since they
were told the story by the original eyewitness, Mr. Barney Barnett, a soil
conservation engineer who reportedly traveled extensively throughout New
Mexico, may have confu sed San Agustin Plains with San Agustin Pass or
San Agustin Peak, an area in the San Agustin Mountains of New Mexico.
These areas are just outside the boundary of the White Sands Missile Range
and the adjacent Jornada Test Range. Numerous anthropomorphic dummy
balloon flights terminated and were recovered in this area. Fllrthermore, if
the civilians witnessed dummy landings on either the White Sand Missile
Range or the Jornada Test Range, both test areas and restricted U.S .

67
Government reservations, then this explains why they may have been told to leav the
landing site. In the popular Roswell scenarios, witnesses were allegedly instructed
by military personnel to leave the area because they witnessed something of a highly
classified nature. This would be unlikely since the witnesses described projects that
utilized anthropomorphic dummies which were unclassified. It is likely, however,
that if the witnesses ventured onto one of these ranges they were instructed to leave,
not because of classified activities, but for their own safety.
These conclusions are supported by official files, technical reports,
extensive photographic documentation, and the recollections of nwnerous
fonner and retired Air Force members and civilian employees who conducted
Projects HIGH D IVE and EXCELSIOR. The descriptions examined here, provided
by UFO theorists themselves, were so remarkably-and redundantly- similar
to these Air Force projects that the only reasonable conclusion can be that the
witnesses described these activities. These many similarities are summarized in
Table!.!.
The next section will examine the accounts of "aliens" at the
hospital at Roswell Army Air Field. As previously stated, due to the lack of
general or detailed similarities with testimony of the two rural "crash sites,"
the hospital account was determined not to be associated with these reports.

NEW MEXICO

"C raah Site" 2

(ApproJl. 176 ml.
NW of Roawoll)

6.. Anthropomorphic Dummy Launch Locations

o Anthropomorphic Dummy Landing Locations

Locations approximate; numbers within symbOls

correspond to lisf(ng of location s found in Appendix A

Source: Test records of U.S. Air Force aeromedica! project no. 7218,
task 71719 (HIGH DIVE) and project no . 7222. task 71748 (EXCELSIOR).

68
 Table 1.1
Comparison of Testimony to Actual Air Force Equipment, Vehicles, and
Procedures Used to Launch and Recover Anthropomorphic Dummies

Notes :
"Crash Site" 1 - Site North of Roswell
"Crash Site" 2 - Site 175 miles Northwest of RosweH
Shaded areas indicates corrobo ration betwee n witnesses.
Boxed shaded areas indicates corroboration between witnesses at differe nt "crash" sites.

Air Force
Witness Description "Crash Site"
EquipmenVProced ure

The "Aliens"
I. "They was us ing du mmies in 'Refere nce to Site 1
those damned things." '66 anthropomorphic d um mies
Ragsdale (tigs: 11 , 14,21-22, 29,
30033, 35, 40, 72-75 ,45>:

2. "I thought they were plastic "Referen ce to Site 2

dolls"'61 ~nthropoinorphicdummies '
Anderson that had plastic skin.

3. "an experimental plane with Reference to Si!e 1

dummies in it"' M anthropomorphicdummies.
Kaufma/1

4. "J'm sure th at was bodies ... R eference to Site I

either bodies or du mmies." l69 anthropomorphic du rnmi e.s: .
Ragsdale

5. "it was either dummies or .Reference to Site I

bodies or something laying anthropomorphic dummies. :
there." 170
Ragsdale

6. " his eyes was open, staring . Reference to Site 2

blankly" 17l anthropo mo rphic dummy.
Anderson

7. "not exactly like human Reference to Site 2

beings .. .similar, but not exactly."172 a nthropomorphic dummies.
Malrais

8. "didn't look like human Reference to Site 2

beings"m anthropomorphic dummies.
Knight

9. "they didn't have a little Reference to A lderson ' Si te 2

finger" l74 Laboratorie!; dummy that
Anderson were reu sed many timesand
were o ften damaged but
remained in service.
(figs . 35,73. 75),

69
 Air Force
Witness Description "Crash Site"
Equipment/Procedure

10. "they had four finge rs" '75 Corroboration of Si te 2

k/ailais description#8. See above.

I I. [the beings were] "three and Likely description of Site 2

a half to four feet taIl"'76 anthropomorphic dummy
Mallais missing legs after fall from
altitude.

12. [the being were] "four foot Corroboration of Site 2

tall, four and a half feet tall." ITI description #11. See above.
Anderson

13. "they weren't over four or Corroboration of

five foot long at the most." 178 description #1 L See above.
Ragsdale

14. "Their skin coloration ... Probable description of a Site 2

~ was]
a bluish tinted milky wh,ite"'N "Sierra Sam" dummy with
Anderson pale white "skin" (fig. 21).

15. "their heads were Anthropomorphic dummies Site 2

ha irless ... no eyebrows, did not have "hair"(tigs. 21,
no eyelashes, no hair" 1<" 22, 36 c 38, 40).
Maltais

16. "no hair...completely bald" 181 Corroboration of Site 2

description # 15. See above.
Anderson

17. "no visible ears ... just a rise D ummies had ears that were Site 2
there and then a hole"'82 molded to their heads with
Anderson openings for placement of
instr uments (fig. 22).

18.'The hands were not Reference to Alderson dummy

covered"'S] which did not have gloves on
Maltais hands (figs. 35,73-75).

19. "they were all wearing one Reference to gray flight suits Site 2
piece suits ... a shiny silverish waUl by the dummies for some
gray color""4 of the tests (tigs. 14,29,30).
Anderson

20. "Their clothing seemed to COHoboration of description Site 2

be one piece and gray in color."'85 # 19. See above.
ill/altais

70

Witness Description
21. "It's uniform was tom in
a couple spots ... their uniforms
were in pretty sad shape."186
Anderson
22 . "Around the collar it [the
suit] was trimmed in ... maroon-
like cording"IS7
Andersoll
23. "They looked like they
had some sort of bandages
on 'em ... over his [the
crewmember's] arm." lss
Allderson
24. [bandages] "around his
midsection and partially over
his shoulder"189
Anderson
The "Craft"
25. "It [the crewmemberJ felt
dead when I touched it, it was
very cold."I90
Anderson
26. "it was a dirigible, a blimp
that had crashed"191
Allderson
27. "a flying saucer that had
burst open" 192
Maltais
28. "clusters of thread like
material in the form of a
cable"193
Anderson
29. "others of those [cables]
went from one kind of package
of components to another kind
of package"194
Anderson
30. "some kind of container,
a metal box"195
Anderson
71
Air Force
"Crash Site"
Eq uipmentiProcedure
Dummy uniforms were often Site 2
secondhand, rips and other
defects were common but
they remained in service (fig. 75).
Reference tared duct tape Site 2
used to prevent air from
filling the dummy 's
flightsuit (figs. 29, 30).
Reference to tape and nylon Site 2
webbing used to prevent
arms and legs of dummy
from flailing . Tape was also
used to secure the removable
back plate of head (figs. 29,
30,35,72-75).
Reference to parachute Site 2
harness that had chest and
shoulder straps.
Description of a high altitude Site 2
balloon payload that was
cold soaked at sub zero
temperatures of the upper
atmosphere.
Reference to a partially Site 2
inflated or deflated high
altitude balloon (figs. 23,70).
Reference to the dummy Site 2
suspension rack that did not
have sides (figs. 35, 73-75).
Numerous cables and wires Site 2
were used in the dummy
instrumentation kits and
balloon control package .
Both balloon control package and Site 2
dummy instrumentation kits were
connected by cables (fig. 73).
Reference to balloon control Site 2
package or dummy
instrumentation kit (fig. 73).

Witness Description
3 I. "it was ice cold, it fell like
il j ust c ame out of a freezer" '9h
Andersol1
Vehicles
32. a "jeeplike truck that had
a bun c h of radios in it and two
big antennas .... T here was a
guy sitti n' in there wear,in '
earphones and he was talking
on the radio." '97
Anderson
33. "weapons carriers"' YK
Rogsdale
34. "six by six Army trucks"'""
Ragsdule
35. " six by [si x]. .. military
truck with canvas ... wagon
type ... thing over it" '"''
Anderso/l
36. "wreckers [withl cranes
on "em H2 ()1
Anderson
37. "a wrecke r"211'
Ragsdale
3 8, " there w as military
ambulances"20l
Anderson
39. "the pick-u p" " "
Anderson
Air Force
"Crash Site"
Equipment/Procedure
C ondition of a balloon Si te 2
pa y load after it has been
"cold soaked" in the upper
atmosphere at te mpe ratures
far bclow zero.
Reference to a modified Site 2
M -37 3/4-ton utility truck,
co mmohlyreferred to as a
we apons c arrier, uni que to
the B all oon Branch. O ne
of the prim ary vehiCles
used by r ec overy c rews.
Ba lloo ns were trac ked by
d irection findingge ar and
requ i.red a radio operator to
wear headphones(fig. 32).
Corroboration of description Si te 1
#32. Se e above.
R eference to M-3521/2-ton Site 1
c argo truc k used to transport
dummies and suspension
racks for launch and
recoveries (fig. 31).
Corroboration of description S ite 2
#34. See above.
reference to M-246 wrecker Site 2
used to launch and recover
anthropo morphic d u mmy
payloads (fig);. 23, 28 , 70).
Corroboration of description Site I
# 36. See above.
Re ferenc e to a co nverted M-43 Site 2
ambulances used as balloon
recovery commu n ications
vehi.cles (figs. 64, 71, 80).
Pick-up trucks were often Site 2
used to recover
anthropomorphic dummies
(figs. 71, 79).
72

Witness Description
40. "tankers, like, maybe had
fuel or water in 'em"2l)j
Anderson
41. "a military car" 200
Anderson
42. "'47 Ford car"20,'
Ragsda le
43. "there was a jeep that was
pulling a trailer with a motor on
it, like a generator." lO'
Anderson
Aircraft
44. "observation aircraft ... high
winged aircraft"2~Y
Allder.IOIl
45. "C-47 sittin there" [on the
roadj21O
Anderson
Procedures
46. "T he federal governrrrent
could have been doing
something because they didn't
want anyone to know what this
was ... they was using dummies
in those damned things ... they
could use remote control"2! !
Ragsdale
47. "they look everybody 's
name and everything"212
Anderson
48. "they cleaned everything all
up ... I mean they cleaned
everything"213
Ragsdale
73
Air Force
"Crash Site"
Equipment/Procedure
reference to M-49 fu el trucks Site 2
used to refuel aircraft or
helium trailer used to inflate
balloon (figs. 23, 70, 80, 8 I).
A variety of military and ' Site 2
civilian cars were of1en used
for balloon recoveries and
laUllches{Fig. 71) .
..' Corroboration .of desc ription Site I
#41. See abo ve .
Re fe rence to I-ton trailer and Site 2
MB-19 15 Kilowatt diese l
generator that were used at
balloon launch and recovery
locations (fig. 71).
Reference to an L-20 Site 2
aircraft, primary "chase"
aircraft used for balloon
recovery in the mid 1950s
(fig. 77).
C -47 aircraft were often Site 2
used on dummy launch and
recovery operations (fig. 78).
Reference to balloon borne Site I
anthropomorphic dumm,ies
that were dropped by remote
co ntrol by balloon controllers
at Holloman AFB
Procedure used by balloon Site 2
Branch to ensur pay ment
of $25 reward and to settle
claims of property damage.
Balloon Branch personnel Site I
were req ui red to remove as
much debris as possible from
balloon and payload landing
areas to avoid complaints and
legal actions.

Witness Description
49. "they had the road
barricaded off 21
Anderson
50. "they had the road
sealed off'215
Ragsdale
5 I. "airpl anes sitting there they
had landed on the highway"116
Anderson
52. " there was airplanes in the
sky" [over the crash site] 2 17
Anderson
53. "stretching out cables of
some kind ... they were stretching
stuff out on the ground,
dragging stuff out of trucks"218
Anderson
Air Force
"Crash Site"
Equipment/Procedure
Procedure .usedfor.ll,ircfllft Site 2
.. o~ration s.
. CorrobQratitin<ofdescription Site 1
#49 : Se.e .above. ..
Established procedure to Site 2
refuel an aircraft, launch a
balloon from an isolated
location or recover a small
payload near a rural road .
Reference to balloon "chase" Site 2
aircraft used to direct ground
recovery crews to balloon
impact site.
Reference to balloon Site 2
infl ation procedure that
required the balloon and
ground cloth to be removed
from a vehicle and laid on
the ground (fig. 79).
74
 SECTJONTWO

Reports of Bodies at the

Roswell AAF Hospital
Tins section examines the remaining portion of the Roswell
Incident c1aims- the reports of "bodies" at the Roswell AAF hospital.
Examinations of the various "crashed saucer" scenarios revealed
references to the Roswell AAF hospital appeared in virtually all of them.
Most of these were based on the account of one individual, W. Glenn
Dennis. His undocumented and uncorroborated recollections, reportedly
first related in 1989, over 42 years after the alleged Roswell Incident, are
based on activities he allegedly encountered as a mortician providing
contract services to the Roswell AAF hospital. Dennis' recollections
have, in turn, been interpreted by UFO theorists as evidence that the U.S .
Army Air Forces recovered "alien" bodies and autopsied them at the
Roswell AAF hospital in July 1947.
Dennis has been described as the "star witness" and his claims
as the most credible of the Roswell Incident. I This, even though his most
sensational assertions were not based on his own experiences but on
information allegedly related to him by unidentified mystery witnesses.

Fig. I. The International UFO

Museum and Research
Center in Roswell , N .M .

75
 The my stery witnesses were allegedly an Army Air Forces nurse
and a pediatrician both assigned to the Roswell AAF hospital in 1947.2
To casual observers, this account, which contains references to actual
U.S. Army Air Forces and U.S. Air Force personnel and activities ,
appears to have a ring of authenticity. However, when examined closely
by Air Force researchers, the dates of events, the events themselves, and
the people described as having participated in them, were found to be
grossly inaccurate and totall y unrelated to activities of July 1947.

The Account
The following is a summary of information provided by W.
Glenn Dennis, who claimed he was a 22-year-old mortician at the Ballard
Funeral Home in Roswell in July] 947, when he alleged these events
occurred:
On July 7, 1947, Dennis alleged he received a series of phone
calls at the Ballard Funeral Home, where he worked, from the Mortuary
Affairs officer at Roswell Army Air Field. He recalled that the mortuary
officer inquired as to the availability of child sized caskets and
procedures for preserving bodi es that had been "laying out in the
elements."3 Later that day he received an emergency ambulance call
(the civilian mortuary for which he worked also provided an ambulance
service) to respond to the site of a minor traffic accident in Roswel1. 4
The accident victim was an "airman" stationed at Roswell AAF, and
Dennis transported the airman to the hospital at the base. s
As Dennis walked into the hospital he noticed three military
box-type ambulances, one or more of which contained what appeared
to be "wreckage."6 He described the wreckage as being inscribed with
odd markings or symbols and bluish-purplish in color. 7 He recalled that
some of this wreckage was resting against the inside wall of the rear
compartment of the ambulance and two pieces of it "looked kind of like
the bottom of a canoe."g He described other wreckage on the floor of the
ambulance as being "all sharp" and as best he could tell "was like broken
glass."9 He also recalled observing Military Policemen (MPs) standing at
the back of two of these ambulances. lo
When he went inside the hospital, he encountered a military
nurse who was assigned there and with whom he was previously
acquainted. 11 The nurse, who looked upset, was covering her mouth with
a cloth and told him that "you're going to get in a lot of trouble" and that
he should "just get out of here." 12 Dennis also stated that he encountered
a military doctor who was assigned to the hospital, a pediatrician, with
whom he was "pretty good friends but did not speak with at that time .13

;, Excerpts of interviews contained in this summary were taken from audio or video
recordings made by persons referenced in the appropriate endnote. The sole exception is the
interview conducted by Stanton T. Friedman on August 5, 1989. Quotations from this interview
were taken from a transc ript which is reportedly an accurate representation of the interview.
Friedman has not honored repeated requests for an audio recording.

76
 Having seen the wreckage in the rear of the ambulance and
believing there had been an accident, he asked another officer in the
hospital if there had been a plane era h. The officer, whom Dennis had
never seen before, asked him: "Who in the hell are you?" When he
responded he was "from the funeral horne," the officer summoned two
MPs to escort him from the hospital. 14
However, before Dennis and the two MPs had left the hospital,
he heard someone say, "We're not through with that SOB, bring him back
here." 15 When Dennis turned around, he observed a redheaded captain (in
one version of these events Dennis is quoted as describing this person as a
"big redheaded colonel"L6) who said, "You did not see anything. There was
no crash here. You don't go into town making any rumors that you saw
anything or that there was any crash ... you could get in a lot of trouble." 17
Angry about being called an SOB, Dennis informed the
redheaded officer that he was a civilian, not under his authority, and that he,
the redheaded officer, "can't do a damn thing to me." IB The redheaded officer
was alleged to have threatened Dennis by responding "Oh yes we can" ...
"Somebody will be picking your bones out of the sand" ... "We can do
anything to you ..." That we want to."19 A black sergeant, whom Dennis
recalled had accompanied the redheaded officer, allegedly stated he would
"make real good dog food."20 Following this exchange, Dennis claimed he
was "picked up ... arm and arm" and escorted back to his place of business
by two MPS.21
The following day, July 8, 1947 , Dennis attempted to telephone the
nurse he had seen in the hall at the hospital to fmd out "what was going on."22
He stated that he was unable to reach the nurse but did reach another nurse,
a "Captain Wilson," who explained to him that the nurse he was trying to
contact was not on duty, but "Wilson" would give her a message to call him.23
The nurse called Dennis later that same day at the funeral home where he
worked and agreed to meet with him at the officers' club at Roswell AAF
that afternoon.24
When the two met, the nurse appeared disturbed and ill. 25 Dennis
asked her to explain what was going on when they met in the hospital the
day before. The nurse explained that, in the course of her normal duties,
she entered an examining room to get some supplies and encountered
two doctors whom she did not recognize that "supposedly were doing a
preliminary autopsy" on "three," "very mangled," "black," "little bodies."26
The doctors requested the nurse remain in the room because they needed her
assistance.27 She allegedly explained that there was a terrible odor in the
room that made both her and the doctors ill. 28 Due to this terrible odor and
inadequate ventilation , the nurse allegedly told Dennis that the autopsies
were moved to another facility on the base and then "everything" was taken
to "Wright Field" (now Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio).29
The nurse described the little bodies in detail and even provided a
3D
diagram . She described 'little bodies' three to four feet in length that had
large, "flexible," heads, and concave eyes and noses. 31

77
 After this meeting Dennis claimed he never saw the nurse again,
and he was told she had been shipped out the same afternoon (July 8,
1947) or the next day (July 9, 1947). 32 However, some time later Dennis
received a letter from the nurse that indicated she was in London,
England. 33 Dennis stated that he tried to respond to the nurse, but his
letter was returned stamped "return to sender" and "deceased."34 After
receiving this letter, he inquired at the base about the nurse and was told
by "Captain Wilson" that she didn't know where the nurse was, but there
was a tUmor that she and several other nurses had been kill d in a plane
crash while on a training mission. 35
Some years Later, Dennis stated that he visited the unidentified
military pediatrician he had seen at the hospital. 36 The pediatrician had
since left the military and set up practice in Farmington, N.M Y Dennis
said he and the pediatrician discussed the incident of years past but
was stopped short when the pediatri cian told him that he was consulted
regarding this incident, but that "it was completely out of [his] field of
medicine," then ended the discussion. 38
Based on this account, UFO theorists have presented the
following assertions:
a. Dennis, the ' missing" nurse, and the unidentified pediatri-
cian inadvertently stumbled onto the highly classified autopsies of
alien bodies at Roswell AAF hospital in July 1947.
b. The two mysterious doctors at the hospital were sent to
Roswell AAF from a higher headquarters to conduct the autopsies
after which the bodies were transported to what i now Wright-
Patterson AFB, Ohio.
c. The bluiSh-purplish wreckage that looked like the bottom
of a canoe in the rear of the ambulance, were "escape pods" from a
flying saucer flown by the aliens that crashed in the Roswell area.
d. Dennis was forcibly removed from the hospital and threat-
ened with death by the redheaded officer because he had witnessed
some of these activities.
e. The nurse was kidnapped, possibly murdered, and all
records that she ver existed were systematically destroyed by
government agents, also because she witnessed these activities.
As in other accounts examined in thi s report, the episodes
described here became part of the Roswell Incident only because the
witness claimed they occurred at a very specific time, July 7-9, 1947.
These dates coincide with an actual event: the retrieval of experimental
Project M OGUL research equipment that was erro neously reported as a
flying disc (see Section One). 39 If the events described here occurred at
any other time- years, months, weeks, or even days b fore or after Ju ly
7-9, 1947- they might be considered unusual to an uninformed person,
but certainly not part of the Roswell Incident.

78
 Air Force research revealed that the witness made serious errors
in his recollections of events. When his account was compared with
official records of the actual events he is believed to have described ,
extensive inaccuracies were indicated including a likely error in the date
by as much as 12 years .

79
--
 2.1
The "Missing" Nurse and
the Pediatrician
To iJlustrate the errors in this account and to identify actual
events, the following section will examine the accounts of the missing
nurse and the unidentified pediatrician. Both of these persons were
allegedly present at the Roswell AAF hospital when the events described
by the witness occurred.

The "Missing" Nurse

Dennis recalled that the nurse was quickly and suspiciously
shipped out either the same day or the day after he met with her in the
Roswell AAF Officers' Club. If this allegation was true, it certainly
seemed unusual-and verifiable. Therefore, the morning reports, the
certified daily personnel accounting records required to be kept by all
Army Air Forces units at that time, were obtained and reviewed. These
reports did not indicate that a nurse or any other person was reassigned on
the days alleged, July 8 or July 9, 1947. 40 The morning reports of the
427 th Army Air Forces Base V nit (A AFBU) Squadron "M," the unit that
all the medical personnel at Roswell AAF were assigned in July 1947 , did
not indicate a sudden or overseas transf r of a nurse or any other person.
Records indicated that one nurse was reassigned on July 23, 1947, over
wo weeks after the purported events descri bed by Dennis. 41 That nurse
was transferred by normal personnel rotation procedure ' to Ft. Worth
AAF (now Carswell AFB ), Texas, where she remained on active duty
until March 1949,42 In fact, the Squadron "M" morning reports revealed
the strength of the Army Nurse Corps CANC) at Roswell AAF for July 1947
was only five nurses. Of these five nurses none were transferred overseas
or killed in a plane crash- the "rumored" fate of the missing nurse,4}
This review of the hospi tal morning reports also indicated that
the name of the missing nurse provided by the witness was inaccurate.
The witness stated in several interviews that he believed the nurse's name
was Naomi Maria Selff. 44 A comprehensive search of morning reports
and rosters from the Roswe ll AAF Station Hospital indicated that no
perSall by this name, or a simi lar name, h ad ever served there. This
finding was supported by a search of personnel records at the National
Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Lou is, Mo., a part of the
National Archives and Record Administration. NPRC is the depository
for all V.S . military personnel records. The search at NPRC also did not
find a record that a person named Naomi Maria Selff had ever served in
any branch of the V.S. Armed Forces.
These findings were consistent with previous efforts of several
prO-UFO researchers who have also attempted to locate this nurse or

81
members of her famil y. They, likewise, were also unable to confirm
her existence. 45 While some UFO theorists continue to allege that this
absence of records regarding a nurse by thi s name is part of a conspiracy
to withhold information, the most likely reason for the lack of record is
that this name is inaccurate.'
Even though the name of the nurse is incorrect, it appears that
a nu rse assigned to the Roswell AAF Station Hospital in 1947 may have
been the basis for the claims. Eileen Mae Fanton was the only nurse
of the five assigned to Roswell AAF in July 1947, whose personal
circumstances and physical attributes not only resembled those of the
missing nurse, but appeared to be nearly an exact match.

The "Missing Nurse?"

1st Lt. Eileen M. Fanton
was assigned to the Roswell Army
Air Field Station Hospi tal from
December 26, 1946 until September
4, 1947. 46 Fanton, who is deceased,
was retired from the U .S. Air Force
at the rank of Captain on April 30,
1955, for a physical disability.47
In this account, the missing
nurse is described as sing le, " real
cute, like a small Audrey Hepburn,
with short black hair, dark eyes and
olive skin."48 Lieutenant Fanton was
single in 1947,5 ' 1" tall, weighed Fig. 2. Eileen M. Fanton
I 00 pounds, had black hair, dark (U.S. Air Force photo)
eyes, and was of Italian descent. 49
Dennis also stated that the nurse was of the Catholic faith, and had been
"strictly raised" according to Catholic beliefs.50 Fanton;s personnel record
listed her as Roman Catholic, a graduate of St. Catherine's Academy in
Springfield, Ky. and as having received her nursing certification from St. Mary
Elizabeth 's Hospital in Louisville, KyY
The witness also recalled that the "missing nurse" was a lieutenant, was
a general nurse at the hospital, and had sent him correspondence at a later date
which stated she was in London, England with a New York, N.Y. APO number
(mili tary overseas mailing address) as the return address. 52 Records revealed
tbat Fanton was a First Lieutenant (promoted from Second Lieutenant to First
Lieutenant in June 1947), and she was classified as a "nurse, general duty."SJ
Records also indicated that of the fi ve nurses assigned to the Roswell AAF
Station Hospital in July 1947, she was the only one that later served a tour of
duty in England. Furthermore, she was assigned to the 75 10th USAF Hospital,
APO 240, New York, N.Y., where she served from June 1952 until April 1955. 54

'" Interestingly, an article published in the Fall 1995 edition of Olllni magazine, a publication that
in the past has published sensational "Roswell" claims, also independently accounted for all five of
the nurses and expressed a decidedly skeptical opinion of the account of the " missi ng nurse."

82
 The 751 Oth USAF Hospital was located approximately 45 miles north of
London at Wi mpole Park, Cambridge, Englund.
An additional similarity between Fanton and the "missing nurse" is that
her personnel record indicated that she qu ickly de parted Roswell AAF and it is
probable that the hospital staff would not have provided information concerning
her departure. Fanton 's unannounced departure from Roswell AAF, on
September 4, 1947 was to be admitted to Brooke General Hospital, Ft. Sam
HO llston, Tex a , fo r a medical condition. 55 This condition was firs t diagnosed in
January 1946 and ultimately led to her medical re tirement in 1955 .56 Therefore,
if someone other than a fam il y member contacted the Stati on Hospital at
Roswell AAF and inquired about Fanton, as Denn is stated he did, the staff was
simply protecting her privacy as a patient. The staff was not participating in a
sinister "cover-up" of information as alleged by UFO theorists.

The Pediatrician
In at least two interviews, the witness stated that a pediatrician
stationed at the hospital was involved in the events he described. 57 When
asked by an interviewer how he knew the pediatrician was involved,
Dennis was quoted as reply ing, "I know he was involved because I saw
him there."58 Dennis is also quoted as saying that he and the pediatrician
were "pretty good friends," and after the pediatrician left the military he
[the pediatrician] set up a practice in Farmington, N.M . "I used to go
fishing all the time up north and I visited him several times lip there and
he was involved," Dennis said. "I don' t remember his name, I think he is
still practicing in Farmington ." 59
A review of personnel files and interviews with former members of the
Roswell AAFlWalker AFB hospital staff, revealed that only one physician ever
relocated to Farmington, N.M. following his military service. The former Capt.
Frank B. Nordstrom served at Walker AFB from June 1951 until June 1953. 60
Records also revealed that Nordstrom was indeed a pediatrician and while
at Walker AFB, served as the Chief of Pediatric Services. 61 When Nordstrom,
a resident of the small town of Aztec, N.M., was interviewed for this report,
he stated that he did not recall ever meeting Dennis and could not recall any events
that supported any of his claims (see signed sworn statement in Appendix B).62
Farmington (population 8,000 in 1954) is located in the
primarily rural Four Corners region of New Mexico approximately 300
miles northwest of Roswell. According to Nordstrom, Farmington did
not have a pediatrician before his arrival in 1954. From 1954 until
approximately 1970, Nordstrom believes he was the only pediatrician
in the area. His recollections were confirmed by a local Farmington
pharmacist, Charles E . Clouthier. 63 Clouthier also served at the Walker
AFB hospital, from 1955 to 1957, and following his military service
returned to Farmington, his hometown, where he had lived since 1934.
Clouthier has been employed by and co-owned a business, Farmington
Drug, since 1957. He is familiar with most, if not all, of the doctors who

83
practice in Farmington and the Four Corners region of New Mexico.
Clouthier's confirmation that Nords trom was the first pediatrician to
practice in the Farmington area, was based on both hi s frequent
professional contacts with local physicians and his experiences as a
longtime Farmington resident. 64
Although Nordstrom believed that he was the pediatrician
described, he was at a loss to explain how Dennis gained information
concerning his military and civilian employment history. In a signed sworn
statement, Nordstrom stated that he did not recall ever meeting Dennis and
had certainly never been visited by Dennis as he has claimed. One possib1e
source of the information is that from approximately 1958 until approximately
1961 Dennis operated a drugstore in Aztec, N.M., a small town near
Farmington where Nordstrom resides (interestingly Aztec is the location of the
original "crashed flying saucer" story, see below). However, Nordstrom also
did not recall any contact with Dennis in his capacity as a drugstore operator.

Behind the Roswell Incident?

Th "Roswell Incident" story is hardly original. In 1948, a work of
fiction reportedly appeared in the Aztec (N. M.) Independent Review describi ng
the crash of a fly ing saucer with "little men" near Aztec, N.M. In 1950, Frank
Scully, a columnist for the theatrical publication Va riety, publi shed a book,
Behind the Flying Saucers, which proclaimed the story to be true. 65 Based on

. 1l.,rtN rIMw ~ __ IUdB'! "noir, .,I..........r

hili ..... ,. tlt.. _ _ "'l lbo.f uwd: ~.. _
-. tol ~I""'k ll.-. n.., Wff'IO "~1Iaj I-IOO,uoG-*-d .
:"~... 'TJWK'..fYI*..ift' I.r ..h 1"" .....-., ___ ."tw ...
. Flying Saucer -.
.Swindlers-
Dr J. P. LUI~'

Fig. 3. Story by J.P. Cahn,

that appeared in the August
1956, True magazine.

84
 the Aztec story, Behind the Flying Saucers bears many similarities to the
Roswell Incident, most notably, desc ripti ons of covert "flying saucer" and
"little men" recoveries interspersed with doses of unsu bstantiated accusations
directed at the U.S. Air Force. 66
In his book, Scully claimed he had information from two scientists, Silas
M . Newton and a mys terious "Dr. Gee," who he claimed investigated the crash
for the government. 67 In reality, Ne ton and Gee were con-men who convinc ed
Scully of the story's authentici ty.GR
Intrigued by the sensational clai ms made in Behind the Flying Saucers,
a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, J. P. Cahn, dec ided to look into
the matter. W hat resulted from Cahn 's research were articl s in the Septem ber
1952 and August 1956 edi tion of True magazine which detennined that the
story wa. as "phony as a headwaiters bow and smile."w
Caho, with the assi stance of a magic ian, devi ed a plan to "sting" the
two con-men.70 To execute the sting, he used sleight of hand switching an
. indestructi ble" metal disk, claimed to be from a fly ing saucer, with a slu g of
his ow n manufacture. After the switch , Cahn submitted the di. k to a laboratory
for anaJ ysis revealing that they were of earthly origin, in particular, a grade of
aluminum used to manufacture pots and pans !7!
Even with the exposure of this obvious fraud , the Aztec story is still
revered by UFO theorists. Elements of this story occasionally reemerge and are
thought to be the catalyst for other crashed flying saucer stories, includi ng the
Roswell Incident.

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'<:'11"
1""1""' ,tl'lT"i~ 1'C" pnhlf'l't ... ,>d Ir pnmt'd IJ~.
11_ I h~ t In : Nm ' C(~MT.' ".l f... " n~etl

Fig. 4. September 1952 True ::: ~~~::~ tt:~d"':':~r~;'i.:'~~lil::;;

magazine story th at exposed ..w.,...1.1 .... 1 brol U~~" 11,10" ~ t.. Uc:. ... i..
the Aztec , N.M . hoax.

85
Descriptions of Other Air Force Members
Since official records proved that none of the nurses at Roswell
AAF in July 1947 were missing, and the nurse and pediatrician described
in this account had been identified. major discrepancies between Dennis'
recollections and official records were apparent. In an effort to provide for
the fullest possible accounting of these claims, even though key aspects
had already been proven false, Air Force researchers sought additional
information to determine if there was validity to any portion of the account.
Since the witness has never provided documentation to support his claims,
the only source of additional information was the numerous interviews he
had previously provided to private researchers and the media. His many
statements, which have appeared in newspapers, videos, magazines, movies,
books, lectures, journals and television programs were reviewed for
information that might further explain his testimony.
Examination of this large body of publicly available information
immediately provided clues that the witness may have recalled incidents
from a period other than Ju ly 1947. The first clue was that he repeatedly,
in all of the interviews, referred to the inj ured military person he allegedly
transported to the Roswell AAF hospital as an airman . The rank of airman
was not in existence in 1947. It was implemented on April 1, 1952.72 Prior
to that date an airman in the Air Force was referred to by the U.S . Army
equivalent, a private. Another possible indication that he recalled events
from a different time was the description of an alleged "black sergeant" that
accompanied the redheaded officer at the hospital. The pairing of a white
officer with a black NCO seemed unlikely since in 1947 the U.S. Army Air
Forces was racially segregated, as were all branches of the armed forces.
The U. S. Air Force did not begin racial integration until the May 11 , 1949
issuance of Air Force Letter 35-3 that formally ended segregation.73 Though
it was not impossible in 1947 for a black NCO to accompany and seem to be
working with a white officer, it would be unlikely. These two discrepancies
did not provide a firm time frame of actual events, if any occurred at all.
To approximate a ti me frame for actual events, the specific details of
the infonnation provided were examined. This examination was to determine if
any military members were identified by name or by a combination of any other
distinguishing characteristics such as rank, position, age, or physical attributes. If
the testimony identified a military member as having been present for an event,
then their personnel record could be used to affix an approximate date. Affixing
a date of an event by referencing personnel records was possible since each
military member's personnel file contains a physical descript ion and
chronological listing of duty stations, uni ts of assi g nment, and work
assignments for his/ her entire military career.
This detailed examination revealed several likely references to
specific individuals, which through their personnel files, were documented
as having been assigned to the hospital at Roswe ll AAF or Walker AFB
(Roswell AAF was renamed Walker AFB in January 1948).

86
 The ''Big Redheaded Colonel." An indication that Dennis might
have mistaken the date of actual events was that he was quoted in at least one
book as having said that the officer who threatened him in the hospital was
a big redheaded coioneP4 Research revealed that only one tall colonel
with red hair was known to have been assigned to the Walker AFB hospital.
Colonel Lee F. Fen-ell was the hospital commander from October 1954 until
June 1960. 75 Ferrell was 6' 1" tall and had red hair.76

Fig. 5. Col. Lee F. Ferrell

(left), was commander of the
Walker AFB ho sp ital from
195 4-1 960. [n this photo
Ferrell escorts U. S. Senator
Denni s Chavez ( .M. ) on a
tour of the new Walker AFB
hospital in June 1960, which
was named in honor of the
senator. (U.s. Air Force photo)

"Captain 'Slatts' Wilson." In at least two interviews Dennis

repeatedly made reference to a nurse named "Captain Wilson."77 He recalled
that "Captain Wilson", who he believed was the head nurse, was another
nllrse stationed at the Roswell AAF hospital in July 1947. 78 Dennis claims
he spoke to "Captain Wilson" several times in reference to the alleged
missing nurse. 79
He claims that on the day after he mel with the missing nurse at
the Ro well AAF Officers' Club, he attempted to contact her by telephone
at the hospital but was told that she wasn' t on duty.80 Instead, he spoke with
"Captain Wilson." "I called the station I knew she [the missing nurse] always
worked at," Denni . said, "She was a general nurse ... I was informed that she
wasn't working that day. [D nni then telephoned] An old girl by the name
of Wilson, Captain Wilson, and I asked her' what happened'? She said,
'Glenn, I don' t know what happened, she's not on duty.' She said she'd try
to get w rd to her [the missing nurse] that you [Dennis] want to talk to her."81
Later in the same interview Dennis further described Wilson. "We called her
'Slatts' Wilson who was a big tall nurse about six foot two or three- big tall
skinny gal-and we called her 'Slatts'-everybody called her 'Slatts.' She' s

87
the one who told me she heard there was a plane crash and the nurses went
down on a training mission."82
The testimony appeared to clearly identify by name, rank, position,.
physical attributes and by a distinctive nickname, "Slatts," another nurse present
at the hospital in July 1947. But a review of the morning reports of the Roswell
AAF hospital for July 1947 did not contain the name of a nurse, or anyone else,
named Wilson.R3 The only female captain assigned to the Roswell AAF Hospital
in July 1947 was the Chief Nurse Capt. Joyce Goddard. 84 Goddard, who was
5' 6" tall, was transferred from Roswell AAF to Korea on August 21, 1947. 85
Therefore, according to Dennis ' recollection of events, this review of
the morning reports indicated that there were two mi sing nurses, not one-
"Lieutenant Naomi Selff' and "Captain 'Slatts' Wilson." Further scrutiny of
personnel records of individuals a. signed to the Roswell AAFlWalker AFB
hospital indicated that Dennis'recollections of event were apparently inaccurate.
Examination of the August 1947 morning reports did not list a nurse
named Wilson, but they did list a nurse named Slattery.86 Captai n Lucille
C. Slattery, who retired as a Lieutenant Colonel and is now deceased, was
reassigned from Ft. George Wright, Wa h. to Rosw 11 AAF on August 7, 1947 .87

Fig. 6. Lt. Col. Luc ille C.

Slattery, the only Air Force
nur~e ever known as "S huts,"
served as a captai n at the
Roswell AAFlWalker AFB
hospital from August 1947 to
September 1950. Records
indicate that Slattery did not
an-ive at Roswell AAF until
one month after the "Roswell
Incident," in direct
contradiction to state men ts
mad e by the sole witness to
this account.
(U.S. Ai,. Force photo)

88
 Slattery replaced Goddard as the Chief Nurse and wa~ the only
female captain assigned to the Roswell AAF hospital . Interviews of persons
with longtime professional and personal associations with Slattery, revealed
that she was know n by the unusual nickname of Slatts. R8 Additionally former
associates of Slattery interview d for this report, recalled that she was
the only Air Force nurse that had ever been known as Slatts. 89 Persons
interviewed were Air Fore nurses who retired in the 1960s each with more
than 20 years of service, including retired Air Force Col. Ethel Kovatch-
Scott, who served as Chief Nurse of the Air Force from 1963 to 1965 .
Upon review of Slattery'S personnel file it was learned that she was
only 5'3" tall and therefore was most likely not the 6'2" or 6' 3" "tall skinny"
nurse descri bed. 90 This discrepancy in phy ical description and the fact that
~he did not arrive at Roswell AAF until nearly one month after Dennis claims
he spoke to her, led to the conclusion that perhaps he confused Slattery with
~ome other tall thin nurse, possibly named Wilson who wa~ stationed at the
Roswell AAF or Walker AFB hospital at some other time .
Consequently, a comprehensive review of the morning reports
and rosters of the Roswell AAF/Walker AFB hospi tal revealed that only
one nurse named Wilson had ever served there and she did not arrive until
February 1956. 9l * Capt. Idabelle Miller. who became Maj. Idabelle Wilson
in 1958 due to marriage and a promotion, was assigned to the Walker AFB
hospital from February 1956 until May 1960.92
Upon review of Maj . Wilson s personnel file, it was learned that
she was 5'9" tall and thin. Also, she served as the Head Nurse of the surgical
ward at the Walker AFB hospital. 91 Therefore, Wilson's physical attributes,
tall and thin, and position as Head Nurse matched Dennis' recollections of
"Captain Wilson." When contacted by Air Force researchers, Wilson stated
she had no recollection of Dennis, of ever having conversations with him, any
of the events he described, or of a nurse that was missing. 94 She also made
it abundantly clear that as an Air Force officer and medical professional she
would not spread a rumor of a plane crash, as Dennis alleged "Captain
Wilson" did in conversations with him.95

Results of Missing Nurse and

Pediatrician Research
Examination of the missing nurse and the pediatrician stories, and
other facts established by research, provide a foundation for further analysis
to determine what actual event(s), if any, were responsible for these claims.
Based on information developed it appears this witness may be mistaken in

*Records were abo searched for nam es s imilar to W ilson. Three nunes stationed at Roswe ll
AAF/Walke r AFB were identified ; Martha Wasem, Caro l W illiams, and Chalma Walker. No ne of
these nurses ph yisical descriptions or perso nal/professiona l circumstances were similar to lhe
descriptions of " Capta in Wils on" described by the witness.

89
some of his statements, especially regarding the time fram e of these events.
The followin g facts have been established:
a. The only physician who ever relocated to Farmington, N.M. ,
following his military service at Roswell AAPlWalker AFB was
the former Ch ief of Pediatric Services at the Walker AFB hospital ,
the former Capt. Frank B. Nordstrom. Further, he did not arrive
at Walker AFB until June 1951, four year after the purported
Roswell Incident, has no recollection of Dennis, the statements
Dennis attributes to him, or of any actual events that explain his
account.
b. The onl y nurse ever assigned to the Roswell AAF hospital
(subsequently renamed Walker AFB ) named Wilson, was Idabelle
Wilson. She served at the WaJker AFB hospital from 1956 unti l
1960 and had no recollection of ever meeting or speaking with
Dennis or any of the activities he described.

c. Captain Lucille C. Slattery, the only Air Force nurse ever

known by the distinctive nickname "Slatts," was stationed at the
Roswell AAF hospital. However, she did not arrive until August 7,
1947. This was one month after the Roswell Incident, making it
improbable that Dennis spoke with her in early July 1947.

d. There is no record that a nurse named Naom i Maria Selff, was

ever assigned to Roswell AAF, Walker APB , or was ever a member
of the U.S. military.

e. All nurses assigned to the Roswell AAF hospital in July 1947,

have been accounted for, thereby ehminating any possibility that
there was ever a missing nurse.

Since actual Air Force members who served at Roswell AAFI

Walker AFB hospital were described in this account, the next step was
to determine if actual events that occurred at the hospital were possibly
the source of this story. As stated earlier in this report a thorough
examination of both classified and unclassified records from 1947
revealed no Army Air Forces or U. S. Air Force activ ities that explained
the alleged events. Therefore records were reviewed from other time
periods , based on personnel records of individuals believed to have been
identified. These persons and the periods when they were assigned to
Roswell AAF/Walker AFB are listed in Table 2.1.

90
 Table 2.1
Persons Described and Periods of Service
at Roswell AAFlWalker AFB

Witness Actual Individual Period of Service at

Description Described Roswell AAFlWa lker AFB

the "missing" nurse 1st Lt. E ileen M. Fanton Dec. 1946 - Sept. 1947

"Capt. ' Slatts' Wilson" Capt. Lucille C. Slattery Aug. 1947 - Sept. 1950
(composite of two and
indi v idual~) Maj. Idabelle M.Wilson Feb. 1956 - May 1960

"the pediatrician" Capt. Frank B. Nordstrom Jun e 1951 - June 1953

"big redheaded colonel" Col. Lee F. Ferrell Oct. 1954 - June 1960

The Research Profile

With the establishment of a possible time frame, research efforts
paralleled the previous examination in Section One of this report that
determined high altitude balloons with anthropomorphic dummy payloads
were responsible for the reports of aliens at the two rural New Mexico
"crashed saucer" locations. A further review of Air Force activities was
then made to determine if any were significantly simil ar to the information
provided_ Based on the time period established by personnel records and
statements contained in the witne. s' own account, the follow ing profile of
possible events was established:
An event involving the Walker AFB hospital that took place
between 1947 and 1960;
a. that may have resulted in "very mangled," "black," "little
bodies," that had a strong "odor" being placed in "body bags";
b. that may have re ulted in two persons not normally assigned
to the hospital, believed to be doctors, that were "supposedly doing
preliminary autopsies" on the "little bodies ';
c. that may have involved a body with a head that was much
larger than nonnal which was transported to Wright-Patterson
AFB, Ohio;
d. that may have involved a redheaded captain or a big red-
headed colonel;
e. that may have resulted in an ambulance parked in the rear
of the hospital containing wreckage with inscriptions, that were
bluish-purplish which looked kind of like the bottom of a canoe;
and,
f. that may have required a heightened state of security.

91
 2.2
Ai rcraft Accidents
The examination of events tbat involved the Walker AFB
hospital that may explain reports of bodies was begun by reviewing the
most prominent possible source, which were aircraft accident(s) : A
review of aircraft accidents from 1947 to 1960 revealed eight fatal
accidents that involved Walker AFB.
Table 2.2
Fatal Aircraft Accidents by Year In the Vicinity of Walker AFB
1947-1960

Year Aircraft Location of Accident Number of

Type (distance from Walker AFB , N.M.) Fatalities
1947
None
1948
8112/48 B-29 4 mi les South 13
1949
5/16/49 C-47 6 miles Nort heast 6
12115/49 8-29 2 miles Northwest 7
1950
611/50 KB -29 12 miles East/Southeas t 3
1951
No ne
1952
No ne
1953
None
1954
None
1955
6116/55 T-33 On runway 2
10/3/55 B-47 34 miles West 2
1956
6126/56 KC-97 8.8 miles South II
1957
None
1958
None
1959
Non e
1960
2/3/60 KC-135 On runway and ramp 13

The following three basic criteria were used to narrow research

efforts to specific accidents for more detailed examinations: were the victims
burned, resulting in possible descriptions of "black" "little bodies"?; were
the victims transported to the Walker AFB hospital?; and, were the victims

O ther possible explanations such as automobile acc ide nts , hous e fires, etc., we re also
examined. However, none of these were determined to be responsib le for this account of bodies.

93
autopsied? To facilitate this examination, researchers reviewed official
accident reports, organizational and base histories, individual personnel
records of victims, and contemporary newspaper accounts of the accidents .
Interviews of person ' who participated in the aftermath of these acc idents
were also conducted. As a result, only one accident met the three criteri a, the
June 1956 KC-97 accident.

Table 2.3
Analysis of Air Force Aircraft Accidents
by Year In the Vicinity of Walker AFB
1947-1960
Date of Aircraft Fatalities
Accident Type

Bu rned? Taken to WAFB Autopsi ed?

Hospital?
H112/48 8 -29 Yes" 6 N OY7 No"s
5/16/49 C-47 Yes'" No 100 NolOl
12/15/49 8 -29 No ,o2 Yes HlJ Yc I{).I
6/]/S(J KB -29 No,o5 No H16 No 107
6116/SS T-33 Yes lO8 Ol D\)
Yes llO
10/3/55 6 -47 Yes lll Noll' Noll)
6/26/56 . KC-97 Ves lH Yes l" . Yes ' I6
2/3/60 KC -13S Yes'l7 NO" R NO "9

Upon detailed review of records of the 1956 accident and interviews

with persons who participated in the recovery and identification of the victims,
extensive similarities to the description the witness provided were apparent.

Fatal KC-97 Aircraft Mishap

In 1956, Walker AFB, N .M. was the home of Strategic A ir
Command's 6th and 509th Bombardment Wings. 120 Additionall y,
Walker was home of the 509tb Aeri al Refueling Squadron (509th
ARS) equipped with the KC -97G aircraft.

Fig. 7. A KC-97 similar this

of the 509th Aerial Refueling
Squadron crashed 8.8 miles
south of Walker AFB on June
26, 1956 with the loss of 11
Ii ves. Descriptions of the
aftermath of this tragedy are
believed to be the basis for
some of the reports of "bodies"
at the Walker AFB hospital.
(U.S. Ai,. Force photo)

94
 The acc ident occurred on June 26, 1956, 8.8 statute miles south
of Walker AFB. 121 A KC-97G aircraft with 11 crewmen on board, while
on a refueling training m ission, experienced a propener failure four and
one half minutes after takeoff. 122 As a result of the propeller failure,
a propeller blade was believed to have punctured the deck fuel tank of
the full y loaded tanker causing an intense cabin fire. 123 The aircraft
was quickly engulfed in flames, spun out of control, and was completely
destroyed. All 11 Air Force members were killed instantly by the fire and
impact explosion. 124 Due to the isolated rural impact location on property
owned by the state of New Mexico, there was minimal collateral damage
and no fa tali ties or inj uries to persons on the ground. J25
The remains of the crewmen were recovered from the crash
site and transported by members of the 4036th USAF Hospital (numerical
designation of the hospital at Walker APB ) to the hospital facility at Walker
AFB for identification.126
On the day following the crash, an identification specialist from
Wright-Patterson APB, Ohio arrived at the hospital to assist in identifying the
remains. J27 Part way through the identification process, conducted by both
the identification specialist and Air Force members assigned to the Walker
APB hospital, the identification activities were moved to a refrigerated
compartment at the Walker AFB commissary.128 This was due to an
overpowering odor emitted by the burned and fuel- oaked bodies and the lack of
proper storage facilities at the small base hospitaL l29 Also on the day following
the crash, June 27, 1956, autopsies of three of the victims were accomplished by
a local Roswell pathoiogisL I30 These examinations were performed at a local
funeral home.131 Upon completion of the identification procedures and the post-
mortem examinations, the remains were shipped to the next of kin for burial.

Fig. R. M ain entrance of the

4036th US AF hospital at
Walker AFB, 1956. Initial
identification proced ures of
the 11 ai rcrewmen killed in
the June 26, 1956 KC-97
accident were cO!'ldueted here
before being transferred to
another facility on the base
wi th refrigeration capabili ty.
(U. S. Air Force photo)

95
Comparison of the Account to the KC-97 Mishap
This series of actual ev nts contains extensive similarities to
the account provided by Dennis. The numerous and extensive similarities
indicate that some elements of this actual event were most probably included
in Dennis' account. This aircraft accident provides an explanation for the
following elements of the research profile- the very mangled, black, little
bodies in body bags, the odor, the two strange doctors, and the report of a
redheaded colonel.

Aircraft Crashes and UFOs

Since the first flyin g saucer story in Ju ne 1947, persons have attempted to
exploit actual military aircraft accidents to support UFO theories and propagate
the fl ying saucer phenomenon.
One of the first exploitation attempts in volved a fatal August I, 1947
Army Air Forces B-25 accident near Kel so, Wash. Descri ptions of this
accident, which UFO theorists cont nd was caused becaus the aircraft carried
par ts of a fl ying saucer, were included in a poorly executed hoax . Nonetheless,
it received a cons iderable amo unt of attentioo.
Another incidence was photographs of an "alien," supposedly from a
1948 crash of a fl ying saucer in Mexico. However, when the photograph s were
exam ined by Air Force officials, they noticed a pair of government issue,
avi ato r Lyle, sunglas. es lying underneath the "alien" body.
P rhaps the most famous attempt to exploit an actual aircraft acc ident
involved the fatal January 1948 era h of a Kentucky Air National Guard F-5 1
fighter near Franklin, Ky. Theorists contend the fighter was shot down by a
UFO. However, it was determined that this aircraft most probably crashed
while observ ing a newl y invented high alti tude research balloon thought to be a
UFO. The large balloon, which matc hed eyewitnesses' descriptions at the time,
was released the previous day, and its ground track placed it precisely in the
area where the unidentified object was sighted the next day. Regardless,
shameless attempts to exploit tillS event conti nued as recently as 1995, when
the tabLoid TV program, Sighting,\, aired and pub li shed (Sightings, Simon &
Schuster, 1996 , 170- 176) a distorted interpre tation of this tragedy.

The "Black" "Little Bodies." Review of the autopsy protocols of

the victims of this accident revealed extensive similarities to the descriptions
of the bodies allegedly described by the missing nurse. Dennis related in
various interviews that the missing nurse described, ' ...three; very mangled;
black; little bodies in body bags. ' 132 Records of this mishap confirmed that
the victims suffered "injuries, extreme, mUltiple." 133 According to persons
who assisted in the identification of the remains from this crash, and in
compliance with Air Force directives in effect at that time, human remains
pouches, commonly called body bag , were used to recover and transport
victims' bodies,l 4

96
 Statements made by Dennis described bodies that were "three-and-
a-half to four feet tall," and "black" in color. 135 The autops y protocols of
two victims described extensive third degree burns and loss of the lower
extremities. 136 Dennis also described a head of one of the bodies that was not
rigid but "flexible" and tissues of a body in "strings" that looked as if they were
"pulled" by predatory animals after the crash. 137 An autopsy protocol of a victim
described "multiple fractures of all bones of the skull" and "partially cooked
strands of bowel...over the abdomen and in the chest." I3R Additional similarities
between the autopsy protocols and Dennis' statements were a detached hand and
descriptions of the fingers and anns of the crash victimS. 139
The autopsy protocol of one victim also described remains with
a "face completely missing." 140 This description corresponds with Dennis'
recollections of a body with eyes and nose that were concave. AI 0, the drawing
of the head of one of the "little bodies" Dennis claims is representative of a
drawing given to him by the missing nurse is a reasonably accurate representation
of a human body with its face completely missing. 141
Another similarity to Dennis' account is that of the 11 victims of
this accident, only three were autopsied- the same number of bodies that were
allegedly autopsied in the missing nurse's account. 142 Finally records revealed
that due to limited facilities at the Walker AFB hospital, the autopsies were
perfonned at the Ballard Funeral Home in Roswell 143 This is the same funeral
home where Dennis claimed to be employed in 1947 until 1962.144*
The Odor. Transportation of remains to a small base hospital
was unusual since the hospital did not have the necessary faciIities- a
preparation room, refrigeration equipment or a morgue, to accommodate
multiple deceased persons. Records of other crashes involving Walker AFB
showed that the remains of crash victims were transported either to another
facility on Walker AFB or directly to a local funeral home. 145

Fig. 9. Three of the II Ai r

Force members killed in the
June 26, 1956 KC -97 accident
were auto psied at the Ballard
Fune ral Ho me in Roswell.
The actual descri ptions of
the remains (only three were
autopsied), closdy corresponds
with Denn is' desc ription s
regarding the "little bodie ."
Additionally, thi s is the same
fun eral home where Dennis
c laimed to be employed from
1947 unti l 1962.

Tt is unclear when De nnis worked at thi s funeral home since city and phone direc tories
li sted him as co-ownin g a differe nt funeral home in Ro. well, as vice-pres ident of anothe r funeral
home in Roswell , and as having been e mployed as a drug store su perv isor and oi l fie ld worker
during the periods when he claims he worked at the Ballard Funeral Home.

97
 In fact, the Air Force manual that prescribed the policies, standards
and procedures relating to the care and disposition of deceased Air Force
personnel in effect in 1956, Air Force Manual 143-1, Mo rtuary Affairs, did
not direct that remains be brought to a hospital. It encouraged the local
commander to "improvise facilities" and make use of "garages , warehouses,
large tents, or other facilities for processing groups of remains." 146
Nonetheless, records of the June 1956 crash and interviews with the persons
who processed the remains indicated that the victims were brought from
the crash site to the Walker AFB hospital. 147 During the identification
procedures, the odor became too strong and the bodies and the identification
activities were moved to a refrigerated compartmen t at the base
commissary. 148
Interviewed for this report were the registrar of the hospital, 1st Lt.
Jack Whenry (now a retired Major) and a medical administration specialist
assigned to the registrar, SSgt. John Walter (now a retired Master Sergeant),
both of whom assisted in the processing and identification of the deceased
aircrewmen. Wbenry and Walter both recalled the strong odor, that some
persons became ill during the procedures (as did the alleged missing nurse)
and the unusual transfer of the remains to the Walker AFB commissary (the
nurse also allegedly described the transfer of remains to another building on
the base). However, neither recalled that a nurse was missing or any of the
other activities as described by Dennis . 1 4~
The ''Big Redheaded Colonel." The big redheaded colonel is a
likely reference to the hospital commander, Col. Lee F. Ferrell, who was 6' 1 '
taU and had red hair. Ferrell served at the Walker AFB hospital from 1954
until 1960. l50 It would not be unusual for the hospital commander to be
present at the hospital following a major aircraft accident.
The Two Mysterious "Doctors." The two doctors not assigned
to the Walker AFB hospital who were allegedly observed at the hospital
performing preliminary autopsies have been identified as an Air Force
civilian identification specialist and a local Ros well pathologist.
Identification Specialist. In an aircraft mishap invol ving multiple
fatalities, identification of victims can go beyond the capabilities of a small
Air Force hospital such as the one at Walker AFB . Beginning in July 1951,
the Air Force Memorial Affairs Branch, now called Air Force Mortuary
Services, employed full-time civilian morticians and funeral directors, known
as identification specialists to assist Air Force installations in the identification
of deceased persons. IS l When requested by the local commander, the
identification specialists, on a 24-hour standby basis, responded from Wright-
Patterson AFB to the location of an incident. 152 Records confirm that Walker AFB
only requested an identification specialist on two occas ions, in October 1955
and to identity the victims of the June 1956 crash. 153 For thi s accident the
identification specialist arrived at Walker AFB on June 27, 1956 and made
positive identifications of the 11 crewmen on June 28, ] 956. 154
When contacted for this report, the retired identifi cation specialist
who responded to this accident, Mr. George Schwaderer, did not have any

98
recollections of Dennis, the nurse, the pediatrician, or any of the other
unusual activities as alleged. 15s Schwaderer did recall that on identifications
of group remains such as this it was typical to wear standard hospital surgical
gowns and masks and that he was often mistaken for a patho]ogist. 156
Due to restrictions on the release of information concerning the
identification process uninformed individuals who may, by chance, have
witnessed some portions of the identification, were often the source of a
considerable amount of speculation. The identification procedures employed
by the identification specialists were no classified, but AFM -143-1,
Mortuary Affairs, directed that "no information will be divulged concerning
identification or shipment of any remains until a final determination of
identity has been resolved for all remains." 157
For this accident, identificati on took approximately two days and
any releases of information were restric ted to individuals with an official
requirement. These restrictions extended, not only to the general public, but
al 0 to Air Force members.
A possible reference to the identification specialist is found in one
of Dennis' recitations of the account. Dennis, a mortician who might possess
limited knowledge of Air Force mortuary procedures, stated that he was told
the "doctors" might be pathologists from "Walter Reed Army Hospital." 158
Walter Reed Almy Medical Center in Washington D.C. is a likely location
that an unknown pathologist performing an autopsy on military personnel
might have been based . Co-located at Walter Reed is the Armed Forces
Institute of Pathology (AFIP) and beginning in 1955, AFIP sent pathologists
into the fie ld to examine aircraft accidents. A review of records at AFIP and
interview. with persons involved with he identification procedures at Walker
AFB do not indicate AFIP sent any personnel to assist in this accident. 159
Pathology Consultant. In June 1956, the Walker AFB hospital
did not have a pathologist on staff . 160 All autopsies and examinations of
pathological speci mens were conducted by a civilian consultant from
Roswell. 161 The autopsy protocols of the deceased crewmen from the June
1956 crash indicated that Dr. Alfred S. Blauw of Roswell performed the
three autopsies. 162 Obvious ly, neither the pathologist nor the identification
specialist were normally as si gned to the Walker AFB hospital and would
not be expected to be presen t at the hospital, especially to an observer with
limited knowledge of these activities.

Continuing Research
The focus of research was now shifted to other activities that
might explain the remaining portions of the profile. The unexplained
portions were:
a. the presence of a redheaded captain;
b. the wreckage in the rear of the ambulance outside the Walker
AFB hospital;

99
 c. the heightened state of security at the Walker AFB hospita1~
and,
d. the shipment of a body with a large head to Wright-
Patterson AFB.
Based on previous research, this effort began by examining records
of the other Air Force aerial vehicle known to have operated extensively in
the Roswell area ince the late 1940s- high altitude research balloons.

100
 2.3
High Altitude Research Projects
By 1960, hundreds of high altitude research balloons, some that
carried anthropomorphic dummies, descended and were recovered in areas
surrounding Walker AFB and Ro well. But based on the descriptions of the
bodies and the involvement of a hospital and medical personnel, it did not
seem likely that high altitude research balloons with scientific instruments
or anthropomorphic dummies could possibly account for this testimony.
Therefore, the focal point of the research shifted to manned high altitude
balloon flights conducted by the Air Force during the mid to late 1950s and
early 1960s.

Manned Balloon Flights

Two manned balloon projects, MAN HIGH and EXCELSIOR, were
conducted within the time period targeted for research: M AN HIGH from 1957
to 1958 163 and the manned portion of EXCELSIOR in 1959 and 1960. The only
other manned high altitude balloon project in Air Force history, STARGAZER,
did not fly until 1962.
It was discovered that only six manned flights were made for MAN
HIGH and EXCELSIOR. These flights were detennined unlikely as the source of
the testimony since there were no injuries or deaths, all ix flights had been
the subject of intense media coverage, and none were flow n in the vicinity
of Roswell. Despite the apparent dead end these flights presented to explain
this account, records were obtained and persons involved in MAN HIGH and
EXCELSIOR were contacted and interviewed . These records and interviews
confirmed that there were, in fact, only six USAF manned high altitude

Fig . 10. Maj . D avid G .

Simon s (MC) (left) , balloon
designe r O tto C . W inzen
(center) a nd C apt. Joseph
W. K ittinger, Jr., examine a
scale model of a low altitude
balloon gondola used to train
pilots for high altitu<f,~ missions.
(photo courtesy of Mike Smith,
Raven Industries)

101
balloon flights none with characteristics similar to the testimony. However,
detailed examinations of the records revealed that, in addition to the six high
altitude balloon flights, there were also numerous low altitude balloon flights
made to train and qualify the high altitude ball oon pilots.1M Records of the
training flights indicated that some of these were conducted at Holloman AFB ,
N.M., and several mishaps occurred resulting in injuries to the piiots. J65
Further research revealed that one accident had taken place j ust
northwest of Rosw 11 . 166 The accident OCCUlTed on M ay 21 , 1959, 10 miles
northwest of Walker AFB, on a pilot training mission for the upcoming Project
E XCELS IOR and STARGAZER flights scheduled to begin that fall. Analysis of the
accident revealed actual events that closely resembled the remaining portions of
the established profile.

u.s. Air Force Manned High Altitude Balloon Projects

In addi tion to unman ned high altitude balloon research fligh ts, from 1957
to 1962 the U. S . Air Force condu cted a series of seven manned hi gh altitude
flig hts. T hese forward-looking projects investigated the upper reaches of the
earth' s atmosp here and laid the foundation for manned spacetight. Most fligh ts
were conducted before rocket booster technology was avail able to propel a F ig. II. (Left) Test pilot C apt.
Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr. just
spacecraft into earth's orbit. In this interim period, to "bridge the gap" while
before launch of M AN HIGH I
awaiting develop ments in roc ke t technology, high altitude balloon s were the at New Brighton, Mi nn. on
only vehicles capable of reaching the altitudes req uired. All th ree of the USAF June 2,1957 . Kittinger flew
manned hig h altitude balloon projects, M AN HIGH , EXCELSIOR, and STARGAZER in all three USAF high aiJtitude
utili zed Hollom an AFB balloons to transport men to the very edge of space, balloon project. and has
ac cumulated more high
above approximately 99 per cent of the earth's atmosphere, a region known as
altitude balloon flying hours
"near space." than anyone else in the world.
Project MAN HIGH. In 1955, a combined effort by the U.S. Air Force (US. Air Force photo)
Aeromedical Field Laboratory, Winzen Research International , and the
Fig. 12. (Center) Lt.Col.
Holloma n Balloon Branch resu lted in the firs t Air Force manned ballooll David G. Si mons (MC ), a
program. Project MA HIGH, ofiicially known as the Biodynamics of Space physician and pilot of the MAN
Flight, directed by Lt. Col. David Simons (MC ), was the first of the three HIGH II high altitude balloon
mission, is shown here
boa rding the re c overy
helicopter near F rederick, S.D.
fo llowing the s Llccessful flight
on August 19,1957. Th is
flight lasted 33 hours and 10
minlltes attaining a peak
altitude of 101,500 feel.
(US. Air Force photo)

Fig. 13. (Right) Holloman

AFB B alloon B ranch
Meteorologist and E ngineer,
Bernard D. G ildenberg,
instructs high altitude bal/loo n
pilot 1s t Lt. Clifton McC lu re,
pilot o f M N HIGH !II, in the
operation of a low altitude
training balloon on May 12,
1959 at Holloman APB, N.M.
(US. Air Force photo)

]02
 widely publi cized manned high altitude balloon programs . The objective
of Project MAN HIGH was to measure the physi ological and psychological
capabilities of a human in a space equivalent environmenr. Many developments
of this successful project were later incorporated into the tirst phase of the .S.
Air Force Man in Space Program nicknamed MAN INSp CE SOONEST (MISS) .
Technology developed for MISS was transferred to NASA in 1959 and became
part of Project MERCURY, the initial series of U. S. space missions. ' 67

Fig. 14. Project officer

and pilot, Capt. Joseph W.
Ki ttinger, Jr., standing beside
the EXCELSIOR gondola at
Holloman AFB, .M. On hi s
third and final higb altitude
parachute jum p. fro m 102,800
feet, he eSIablished world
records for highest parachute
jump and length of free-fall
whic h still stand today.
(U. s. Air Force ph oto)

Project EXCEI,SIOR. In 1959 and 1960 the U.S. Air Force Aero Medical
Laboratory collaborated with the Holl oman Balloon Branch fo r Proj ect
EXCELSIOR. the second Air Force man ned hi gh altitude ball oon program .
EXCELSIOR was the dramatic cli max of the high al titude free-fall studies thal began
as Project HIGH Drv in 1953 using anthropomorphic dummies. As the test director
for Project ExCELsrOR, Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger. Jr. made three parachute jumps
from balloons. EXCELSIORT. 11, an d III, from 76,000 75.000, and a still standing
record altitude of 102,800 feet. EXCEL.~IOR s scientific objective was to develop a
parachute sy. tern and techniques required to retlJm a pilot or astronaut to earth
following an emergency high altitude escape.
Project STARGAZER. Project STARGAZER was the third Air Force manned high
altitude balloon program. CapL Joseph W. Kittinger. Jr. , the veteran high altitude
balloon pilot of MAN HIGHand EXCELSIOR. was both the pilot and project engineer.
On December 13, 1962. Kittinger and U.S. Navy civilian astronomer Will iam C.
White rose to 86,000 feet to make a~tronomi cal observations with a gyro-stabilized
telescope. A joint U. S. Air Force, U.S . Navy, Smith onia n Institution. and
Massachu etts Institute of Tec hnology program , STARGAZER made only one of
a scheduled fo ur flights due to budget hortfalls and equipmen t difficulties.

103
 Fig. 15. Project STARGAZER
pilot and project engi neer,
Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger. lr.
(lefi) , afte r landi ng ne ar
Lords burg. N.M. on December
13, 1962 with U.S . Navy
civ ilian a tro nomer William C.
Whi te. Killinger and White
ascended to 86,000 feet
to ma ke astro nomical
observations in the s venth,
and final. U.S . Air Foree
manned high altitude balloon
flig ht. ( U. S. Ai,. Fo rce ph olo)

Table 2.4
U.S. Air Force Manned High Altitude Balloon Flights

Date Project/Flight Altitude (feet) Pilot

6/2/57 MA HIG H I 96.200 Capt. Joseph W. Ki ttinger. Jr.

811 ()/57 MAN H IGH U 101,500 Lt. Col. David G. Simons (MC)
10/8/5K M Al HIG H [[] 99,700 1st Lt. Clifto n McC lure
I til 6/59 EXC ELS IOR I 76,400 Cap t. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jf.
1211 1/59 EX CE LSIOR n 74.700 Capl. Joseph W. Kittinger, 11.
'd/16/60 EX CELS IOR III 102,800 Capt. Joseph W. Ki ttinger. Jr.
12/1 3/62 STt\RGI\IJ~!x K6,OOO Capt. Joseph W. Ki ttinge r, Jr.
With the completion of Project STARGAZER and the success of NASA's
Project MERCURY space flights, fu ture investigations were accomplished by
space vehicles. This signaled the end of an era of manned high altitude balloon
flight; however, these projects had indeed "bridged the gap," and manned space
tlight wa now afely possible.

Low Altitude Balloon Training Missions

Background. In April \958 , Col. John P. Stapp, commander of the
U.S. Air Force Aero Medical Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB, appointed
a new project officer for Project EXCELSIOR, Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr..
EXCELSIOR was part of an ongoing program to examine high altitude aircraft
escape procedures and equipment. I68 Kittinger was an experienced fighter
test pilot who was the pi.lot of the first Air Force manned high altitude
balloon project, MAN HIGH I, in June 1957. 169 In addition to being the

104
 EXCELSIOR project officer, Kittinger was the pilot and project engineer of
STARGAZER which also utilized high altitude baJloons.
By 1959, Kittinger was an integral part of both EXCELSIOR and
STARGAZER and one of only three individuals in the Air Force with high altitude
balloon pilot experience. Due to the hazardous nature of these important
projects, Stapp was concerned that an injury to Kittinger might result in the
cancellation of one or both of them. Therefore, Stapp determined there was a
need for backup pilots. Selected as backup pilots were Captains Dan D. Fulgham
and William C. Kaufman. Both men were rated aircraft pilots, parachutists, and
research and development officers assigned to the Aero Medical Laboratory
at Wright-Patterson AFB.
During the third week of May 1959, a series of low altitude manned
balloon flights were flown to train Fulgham and Kaufman. 170 These flights were
launched by the Holloman AFB Balloon Branch. To satisfy safety requirements,
the flight" were closely monitored by medical personnel at all times. A helicopter
with medical personnel followed the flights during daylight hours, a C- [31
aircraft followed during hours of darkness, and at all times medical personnel
followed in an ambulance.l7I Balloon recovery and communications technicians
also followed the rnis ions on the ground in a communications vehicle and a
balloon recovery vehicle.172 The safety requirements were a result of several
recent balloon mishaps that resulted in serious injuries to the pilots.
To meet the training schedule, Kittinger, Kaufman and Fulgham were
assigned temporary duty (TDY) from the Aero Medical Laboratory at Wright-
Patterson AFB to the Balloon Branch at Holloman AFB, N.M.

Fig. 16. In 1958 while training

for th upcoming U .S.
Air Forc e Aero Medical
La boratory high altitude
M N HIG Hill balloon flight,
ba ll oon designer Otto C.
Winzen ( right) and space
physio logi st Capt. Gro ver
Schock (left), were serious ly
injured in a ba lloon accident
near Ash land, Wisc.
Additionall y, two traini ng
flights at Holloman AFB also
resul ted in injuries to pilots.
These injuries prompted Air Force
officials to require close medical
supervision during future trdining
tlights. (plioto counes), ofNlike
Smith, Raven Industries)

105
 The three pilots, Kittinger, Kaufman and Fulgham, flew training
missions together. Kaufman and Fulgham alternately flew the balloon while
Kittinger instructed. The missions were flown at night to take advantage of ligb
winds and avoid the effects of diurnal heating on the helium (the lifting gas that
filled the balloon). Used for these missions were 3D-foot diameter polyethylene
balloons and an aluminwn gondola especially designed for low altitude training.
The first training mission scheduled for May 19, 1959 was canceled
due to equipment problems. 173 Problems overcome, the next day at 1:30 a.m. the
mission launched from White Sands Proving Ground. 174 The objective of this
flight was to practice gas valving and ballasting techniques necessary for balloon
control and to practice landings. After a five-hour fl ight, the balloon landed
without incident just after sunrise northwest of EJ Paso, Texas.175
The second training flight launched at 2:4 1 a.m. on May 21,1959,
from behind the Balloon Branch building, Bldg. 850 at Holloman AFB. 176 Near
the end of another successful training mission with the same obj ctives as the
previous flight, a mishap occurred resulting in injuries to two of the pilots,
Fulgham and Kittinger. In

Fig. 17. In M ay 1959, C apt.

Dan D. Ful gh am (left) and
Capt. William C . Kaufman.
pilots and Aero Med ical
Research officers fro m
Wri ght-Patters on AFB, Ohio
were assigned temporary duty
to Holloman AFB, N .M . to
train as hi gh altitude balloon
pilots. Fulgham and Kaufman
were trained by Capt. Joseph
W. Kittin ger, Jr. (pho to
collection of Dan D. Fulgha/1/)

The Mishap. Just after sunrise on May 21, 1959, following a

uccessful low level training tilgbt east of Holloman AFB over the Sacramento
Mountains Kittinger the instructor pilot, determined tbe balloon should be
landed in a small field approximately 10 miles northwest of Roswell.178 This was
necessary because of approaching bad weather and the field was the last suitable
landing site before overtl ying the city of Roswell.179 When the balloon touched
down a higher than nonnal forward velocity for landing caused the gondola to

106
 overturn.180 The three pilots, Kittinger, Fulgham, and Kaufman were spilled
from the gondola pinning Fulgham s head between the edge of the gondola and
the ground. lSI The impact shattered his helmet and he sustained a bead injury, I82
When the three pilots climbed out from under the gondola, Fulgham noticed that
his "bead seemed to be protrucling outward from underneath [his] helmet." lx3
Kittinger also received an injury, a mi nor facial laceration. The crew of the
nearby chase helicopter and personnel in the ground tracking vehicles rushed to
the scene. 184 For medical treatment, the pilots were tran ported by the helicopter
to nearby Walker AFB. 185
When the helicopter landed at Walker AFB, it was met by armed
security personnel who sought to verify the purpose of the unannounced
arrival. 18G The security personnel escorted the balloon pilots to the hospital.1 87
The balloon recovery and communications crew, after retrieving the gondola
and balloon, drove to Walker AFB to check on the injured crew and to inform
the Balloon Branch at Holloman AFB of the accident. lss
At the Walker AFB hospital, Fulgham and Ki ttinger received
treatment for their injuries and neither required admission. Meanwhile, the
Walker AFB security officials continued to escort the unannounced visitors
while verifying their identities. l89 The pilot's identities and purpose for their
visit were confumed via phone by Colonel Stapp, Aero Medical Laboratory
commander at Wright-Patterson AFB (the pilots and Project E XCELSIOR were
assigned to this organization).Il)()
Kittinger, the E XCELSIOR project officer, wanted to leave the
hospital as quickly as possible after he and Fulgham received medical
attention . 191 The quick departure was to avoid unwanted scrutiny by Walker
AFB flying safety officials, 192 When released by the fl ight surgeon, the
three pilots boarded the chase helicopter and returned to Holloman AFB
approximatel y 100 miles to the west.

~. \1'
., .JIiF~,
'~
Fig. [8. The balloon
training missions flown from
Holloman AFB, N.M. in May
1959, were made in an open
" ... ... ~-~
. . . . . , '_,' ,
gondola suspended beneath a
3D-foot diameter po!yethe[yne
balloon , T his photo was taken
on May 2 [. [959 by Balloon
-. . - ..
- .-
~
~ .
.

~
.
'.,.-
...
Branch communications
technician, A2e Ole Jorgeson
just prior to the mishap which
. . ----
resulted in injuries to two of
the pilots. (photo collection of
.,.....,
Ole ]orgeson) "

107
 2.4
Comparison of the Hospital Account
to the Balloon Mishap
The balloon mishap near Roswell on May 21,1959 provides the
probable explanation for some of the remaining elements of the incident
profile- the redheaded captain, the unusual security at the hospital, the
wreckage in the rear of an ambulance, and one portion of the accounts of
"aliens" at the Roswell AAF hospital.

The "Redheaded Captain"

It is higbly probable that the descriptions of a redheaded captain
are those of Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr., now a retired Colonel. Kittinger,
who has red hair, was present at the Walker AFB hospital the entire time the
events involving the balloon mishap took place. Tbis is the second Roswell
account that describes a captain with red hair. As related in Section One of
this report (see page 77 and Appendix C, page 194), a redheaded captain
was also allegedly pre ent at the "crashed saucer" site on the San Agustin
Plains.193 That account was consistent with Kittinger's responsibilities as the
EXCELSIOR and STARGAZER pilot and project officer. As project officer of two
research programs that utilized high altitude balloons and as a chase pilot
on many other bigh altitude balloon missions, Kittinger often accompanied
balloon launch and recovery crews. He was present botb on the ground
and in the air at balloon launch and recovery locations throughout
New Mex ico and the Southwes t United States to launch and retrieve
anthropomorphic dummies used for Project EXCELSIOR and unmanned test
gondolas used for Project STARGAZER. 194
Following the accident, when the balloon pilots were transported
to the Walker AFB hospital for medical treatment, Kittinger wanted to leave
as soon as possible. 195 He recalled in a recent interview that his desire to
quickl y leave Walker AFB was to avoid the initiation of a formal accident
investigation. He believed that an accident investigation might bring
unwanted scrutiny to Project EXCELSIOR and delay or even cancel the
controversial project. 196 The controversy surrounding Project EXCELSIOR was
due principally to the hazardous nature of the bigh altitude escape research.
Some senior research and development officials within the Air Force were
reluctant to support a proj ect that required a human subject to parachute from
a balloon gondola at over 100,000 feet. An accident investigation at this
j uncture would most likely delay the human high altitude free -fall tests
scheduled for the fall of 1959 and may have resulted in cancel1ation of
the project. 197
While at the hospital, Kittinger con ulted by phone with his
commander, Colonel Stapp. 198 Stapp agreed with Kittinger's asse sment that
a quick departure from the Walker AFB hospital, after receiving appropriate
medical attention, was in the best interest of the project. IY9

109
 The statements attributed to the redheaded captain "You did not
see anything. There was no crash here. You don't go into town making
any rumors that you saw anything or that there was any crash,"20o were
consi tent with Kittinger's des ire to avoid an accident investigation.
However, when interviewed for this report, neither Kittinger nor any of
the other persons documented as having been present in the hospital that
day recalled encountering Dennis. 201
What may bave led an unjnformed person, such as Denrus, to
believe they were witnessing, or were told of, an unusual or classified
event, was that when the injured balloon pilots arrived at the Walker AFB
hospital, even though Project EXCELSIOR was unclass ified, Kittinger
sought to limit disclosure of negative information and publici ty.202
By 1959, baving been the subject of intense media scrutiny
following his June 1957 MA HIGH I high altitude balloon flight, Kittinger
was aware of both the positive and negative aspects of pUblicity. In his
1961 book, The Long, Lonely Leap, Kittinger described this self-imposed
secrecy regarding Project EXCEL lOR, "The secrecy imposed upon
EXCELSIOR was of our own choosing. We believ d ... that any unnecessary
conversation about our activities ... would simply be premature."20J
When interviewed for this report, Ki ttinger further explained of Project
EXCELSIOR and the visit to the hospital at Walker AFB: "We didn't want
publicity... about anything we were doing. So it would have appeared to
someone not conversant with the project that we were 'hush-hush,' that
we were secretive ... it might look like we were trying to cover up a
classified mission."204
The allegations that the redheaded captain, an apparent
reference to Kittinger, threatened anyone while he was at the Walker
AFB hospital are untrue. When interviewed for this report and in signed
statements obtained from Kittinger the two other balloon pilots, the
doctor wbo treated them, the medic aboard the helicopter, and the Balloon
Branch communications technician who were present at the hospital that
day (see Appendix B), none of them recalled that Kittinger was involved
in an altercation or made threatening remarks to anyone. 20S Involvement
in an al tercation with a civilian would have highlighted th presence of
the balloon crew and possibly brought the type of negative publicity
Kittinger sought to avoid. This would not only have violated Kittinger's
policy of maintaining a low profile in regard to EXCELSIOR, but would be
completely out of character for the seasoned test pilot.
Throughout his career, Kittinger was renowned for his ability
to maintain his composure in difficult, often life threatening, situations .
He faced these situations as a test pilot, as a combat pilot and squadron
commander in Southeast Asia, and as a Prisoner of War while subjected
to severe torture at the hands of the North Vietnamese. In The Pre-
Astronauts, which chromcles many of Kittinger's accomplishments in
the field of aeronautics, including Project EXCELSIOR and STARGAZER, tbe
author offered the following description of him:

110
 Kittinger was not Buck Rogers, nor was he a daredevil or thrill-
seeker: He was a modern day test pilot: intense, focused, usually quiet, and
always polite with firm religious convictions and a powerful sense of loyalty.
If he was often stubborn, uncompromising, and demanding he also dealt
fa irly and respectfully with those who came into contact with him. He was a
straight arro w and a straight shooter. 206

F ig. 19. M aj. Joseph W.

Ki tt inger, Jr. i n J 963 as
a me mber of the I st A ir
Commando W ing, Be n Ho a,
Republic of Vietnam.
(U.s. A ir Force photo)

Colonel Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr., USAF (Ret)

Colonel Joseph W. Ki ttinger, Jr.'s career in the U.S. Air Forc and in aviation
bas spanned the spectrum of experiences: test pilot, balloon pilot, test parachutist,
c mbat fighter pilot, MiG killer, combat quadran commander. and prisoner of war.
He has demonstrated, during a nearJy 30-year military career and beyond, that he is
among the very best in the U.S. Air Force and the field of aeronautic.
Kitti nger began his career in 1949 ill aU .S. Air Force a ialion cadet. After
earni ng bis wings at Las Vegas AFB, Nev. in March 1950, he was assi yned La
figh ter squadrons in Germany and then as a test pilot for NATO. In 1953, IGttinger
received an assignment as a test pilot to Holloman AFB. N.M . While at Holloman ,
he began a many year collaboration with the legendary Air Force sci enlist and
physician, Col. John P. Stapp. In a s ciation with Stapp on numerous aero medical
projects. Kittinger became the first pilot to fly zero-gravity experiments. now
common ly used for as tronau t train ing. For project MAN HIG H on June 2, 1957,
Kittinger piloted a high altitude balloon to 96,000 feet to examine the physiological
and psychological effects on man in a space equivalent environment. Thi fl ight
marked the origins of the manned U.S. space program with the experience gained
from MAN H IOH being incorporated in NASA's Project M ERCURY.

) 1]
 After MAN HIGH , and again in associat.io n with Stapp, Kittinge r directed
Project EXCELSIOR, a study of human free-fall characteristics follow ing aircraft
escape at extremely high altitudes . After extensive testing with anthropomorphic
dummies, Kittinger made three parachute jumps fro m high altitude balloons: 76,400
feet on November 16, 1959; 74,700 feet on December 11 ,1959; and 102,800 feet
on August 16, 1960. For these courageous scientific ac hievements Kittinger was
awarded the D istinguished Flying C ross, the Harmon Trophy by President
Eisenhower, the still-standing world records for highest parachute jump and length
of a free-fa ll-and the distinction of bei ng the only li ving person to exceed the
speed of sound wi thout an aircraft or spacecraft!
With the compl lion of E XCELSIOR, Kittinger became the pilot, project officer,
and project engineer for STARGAZER, an astronomical observation experiment. This
was the third and fina l Air Force manned high altitude balloon project, Kittinger had
flown in all three.
In 1963, he was assigned to the Air Commandos (now Special Operations)
and flew two combat tours in Southeast A ia in B-26 and A-26 aircraft. After a
tour in Germany as a liaison officer with the U.S. Army Special Forces, Kittinger
returned to Southeast Asia in 197 1, flying FA aircraft and commanding the famous
555th "Triple Nickel Tactical Fighter Squadron at Udorn AB, TI1ailand. On March I,
1972 Kittinger engaged and destroyed a MiG-21 over North Vietnam and is
cr dited with an aerial victory. On May II, 1972, after 483 combat missions
and more than 1,000 combat fl yi ng hours, Kittinger was shot down over Hanoi
and spent 11 months as a POW in the infanlOus 'Hanoi Hi lton." W hen placed
with other POWs following solitary confinemenl and severe torture, Kittinger was
moved re peat dly by his North Vietnamese captors due to his effectiveness in
moti vating other prisoners to mai ntain strong resistance postures.
Kitti nger retired from the Air Force in 1978 and became involved in both
sport aircraft fly ing and ga ballooning. He operated Ro ie 0' Grady's Flying
Circus in his hometown of Orlando, Fla., p ~ rmi ng skywriting, banner towing,
and hot air and heli um balloon demonstrations at nearby Walt Disney World .
He also captured the coveled Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Championship an
unprecedented fou r tim es (three consecutive), enti tling him to retire the trophy.
In September 1984, Kittinger made history again, when, in the tradition of
Lindbergh, he became the first person to make a solo crossing of the Atlantic Ocean
by balloon.
Ki ttinger's mi litary decorations include the Si lver Star with one oak leaf
cluster, Legion of Merit with one oak leaf clust r, Di tinguished Flying Cross with
fi ve oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star Medal with "V" device and two oak leaf clusters,
Air Medal with 23 oak leaf clusters, Purple Heart with one oak leaf cluster, POW
medal. and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Pal m.
Kittinger's indomitable spirit, personal courage and dedication to duty are
Jegendary. His ability to achi ve 'eemingly unattainable objectives while earning
the respect and absolute loyally of those who served with hi m defi nes this rare
breed of warrior-leader.
In October 1995, he received yet another honor and was named a recipient of
the prestigious 'Elder Statesman of Aviation" award by the National Aeronautics
Association. This honor is bestowed upon an individual who over a period of years
has made "significant contributions to aeronautics" and for "reflecting credit upon
himself and America." Without a doubt, there are fe w that exemplify thes vutues
more than this truly distincti ve American, Joseph W. Ki ttinger, Jr.

11 2
 The "Wreckage" in the
Rear of the Ambulance
The various types of wreckage described in the rear of an
ambulance at the Walker AFB hospital also appear to be related to the 1959
balloon accident. Some of this wreckage allegedly had odd inscriptions,
touted by UFO theorists as "alien" hieroglyphics.
A requirement of balloon pilot training missions were that they
be closely monitored by balloon recovery and medical personneJ.207 Ground
crews from Holloman AFB followed the balloon flight from its launch site
there to its landing site 10 miles northwest of Roswell. 20S Two of the
vehi cles that followed the balloon were Dodge M-43 3/4-ton field
ambulances and a third was an M-37 3/4-ton utility vehicle or "weapons
carrier."209 One ambulance was assigned to this mission for its standard
use-a medical response vehicle. The other ambulance had been converted
by the Holloman AFB Balloon Branch and served as a communications
vehicle on balloon recovery missions.2l0 The additional communications
equipment, mounted in the rear compartment of the ambulance, drastically
altered what someone expected to see in an ambulance of this type.
Dennis related that he was walking fast when he observed what
he thought was wreckage in the rear of an ambulance. 211 This quick glance
apparently resulted in descriptions of two pieces of wreckage leaning against
the interior of the rear compartment of the ambulance that "was kind of like the
bottom of a canoe .. .1ike stainless steel...with kind of a bluish-purplish tinge to
it."212 UFO theorists have suggested that these objects were alien spaceship
"escape pods" recovered by the Army Air Forces. However, this appears to be a
remarkably accurate description of two steel panels painted Air Force blue on a
converted ambulance used by the Balloon Branch for this mission.

Fig. 20. Balloon Branch

Com m unications Technician,
A2e Ole Jo[-geson, now a
retired Master Sergeant, in the
rear compartment of an M -43
ambu]ance. Am bul ances of
this type we re conve rted
by the Balloon Branch to
commu nicati ons veh icles in
the late 1950s. It app ears the
wit ness des cribed the two
panel s painted A ir Force
blue (lowe r right all d left
of amhulance) as " blu ish -
purp lis h" " wre ckage " that
looked "k inda like the bottom
of a cano e" and the stenciled
writin g above th e m as
"hierogl yp hi cs"-See fig s. 21
and 22 on next page. (photo
collection of' Ole jorgeson)

113
 Fig. 21. (Ab ove) E nlargement
of stenciled writing from
photograph below. Th is
lettering was apparentl y later
described as "hieroglyphics."

Fig. 22. (Below ) Steel panels

painted Air Fo rce blue (lower
riRiJl and left) descr ibed as
" bluish-purplish" "wreckage"
that looked "kinda like the
bottom of a canoe."
(U.S. Air Force photo )

The 'inscription or something,"213 the so called "hieroglyphics," were

a probable reference to the lettering painted on the equipment support rack above
the panels. The lettering on the rack would be visible, but probably not readable,
to an observer that quickly walked pa t the ambulance. Other wreckage "allover
the floor" that was "like broken gJ ass ,"2 14 was a probable reference to the clear
plastic 30-foot polyethylene balloon that was recovered following the balloon
training mission and placed in the back of the converted ambulance or the
weapons carrier for later disposal.
Dennis also recalled that he parked the vehicle he was driving near
three field ambulances and then walked up the ramp into the hospital.215 The
description of ambulances near a "ramp" is consistent with the recollections
of the Balloon Branch Communication Technician who drove the converted
ambulance to the Walker AFB hospital following the balloon accident.
While waiting for the injured pilots, A2C Ole Jorgeson, now a retired
Master Sergeant, recalled in a recent interview that he parked the converted
ambulance near a ramp at the hospital. 2 16 A review of Walker AFB hospital
records revealed that there was only one ramp. The ramp was attached to
the hospital dispensary, Walker AFB Bldg. 3] 7.217 The other ambulances
described by the witness were either the other ambulance from Holloman

11 4
 AFB that provided medical support of the balloon flight or the two "standby"
ambulances, that in May 1959, were routinely positioned adjacent to the
ramp behind the dispensary at Walker AFB .218

Fig. 23. "It was all sharp ...

like broken glass," a witness'
description of debris in the
rear of an ambulance at Walker
AFB . The debris described
was most probably the
remnants of the polyethylene
balloon, similar to the one
in this photo, recovered by
Balloon Branch personnel
following the mishap in May
1959.
(U.S. Air Force photo)

Additional Security at the

Walker AFB Hospital
The witness described what appeared to be a heightened state of
securi ty at the hospital when he allegedly took the injured airman there for
treatment. UFO theorists contend the heightened security at the hospital was
because alien remains were being autopsied. However, it appears that the
witness described the security measures taken by Walker AFB personnel due
to the unusual circumstances of the arrival of the balloon crew.
In 1959, Walker AFB was a part of the 47th Air Division of
Strategic Air Command (SAC). It was home of the 6th Bombardment Wing
(6th BW), equipped with the nuclear capable B-52 Stratofortress bomber
(the 509th BW was reassigned to Pease AFB , NH on July 1, 1958).219 The
mission of the 6th BW, to strike the enemy with nuclear weapons anywhere
in the world at a moment's notice, demanded a heightened state of security
at all times. One of the meth ods instituted during this period to maintain the
high standards of security and effectiveness of SAC units, was unannounced
"surprise" visits of Headquarters SAC inspection teams. A favored method
of transportation for these surprise vi sits was a helicopter. When a SAC
inspection team landed at a base, often the first evaluation they made was
of the security response to their unannounced arrival. Failure of security
personnel to properly challenge unidentified visitors, regardless of their
method of arrival, was considered a serious breach of security.
When transported to Walker AFB for medical treatment, unexpected
and at an early hour, the balloon crew, not surprisingly, was met by armed

115
 security personnel. 220 The security personnel escorted them to the hospital
and remained with them until their identities and purpose of their visit were
verified. Kaufman one of the balloon pilots, recalled that their presence at
Walker AFB was initially met with skepticism.
"The [helicopter] pilot called the tower and said ... having corne
from an experimental base, it was nothing unusual for him to have a balloon
accident. 'We've got an injured pilot on board. There 's been a balloon
accident and we would like the flight surgeon and an ambulance to meet us
at the tower.' The tower established the fact that yes, we were an Air Force
chopper and that we seemed to have somebody injured and what had we
been doing? We had been shooting touch and go landings in a balloon? ... We
got c1earance to land ... right in front of the tower, and we were met by an
ambulance and several MPs with machine guns."221

Fig. 24. Wal ke r AFB

Building 317. hospital
dispen sary with attac hed
ramp, as it appe ared in June
1954. It is in this building
th at UFO th eorists allege
that "a lien autopsies" were
accomplished in July 1947.
However, th is was the same
building that Cap t. Fulgham
rec e ived treatment
following the balloon
accident on May 2 1, 1959.
Persons apparently obser ved
him and later related the
unusua l ci rcumstallces
su rrounding the balloon
m ishap as part of the
"Roswell Incident."
(U.S. Air Force photo )

Fig. 25. Main gate at Walker

AFB. N.M ., formerly Roswell
AAF, as it appeared in 1954.
During the 19505. the highly
secure base was the home of
the nuclear capable 509th and
6th Bombardment Wings of
Strategic Air Command.
(U. S. Air Force photo)

116
 According to the medical technician who arrived on the helicopter
with the pilots, he had difficulty persuading a flight surgeon to attend to
the injured pilots. SSgt. Roland H. "Hap" Lutz, now a retired Chief
Master Sergeant recalled when he first contacted the Walker AFB hospital
explaining that he had three persons injured in a "gondola accident," the
flight surgeon told him to "Go home and sleep it Off."222 Fulgham, the injured
pilot, recalled that when they got to the hospital, 'there was this controversy
going on in the hospital about who in the hell we were ... we weren' t supposed
to be there and nobody knew anything about Air Force officers flying
balloons ... we could have been ... [trying] to penetrate the security."223 Walker
AFB security officials were satisfied of the pilots' identities when they spoke
to Colonel Stapp, commander of the Aero Medical Laboratory at Wright-
Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Fig. 26. C apt. Joseph W.

Kittinger, Ir. (right). is shown
here in 1962 with Dr. 1. Allen
Hynek while preparing for
the project STARGAZER high
altitude balloon flight.
(US. Air Force photo)

The "Red-headed Captain" and Dr. J. Allen Hynek

Captain Kittinger, the STARGAZER high altitude balloon pilot and project
engineer, had ex tensive profess ional contact with Dr. J. Allen Hynek, an
astronomer and STARGAZER project scientist. Additionally, Hynek was also one
of the scientific consultants in the Air Force study of UFOs, Project B LUEBOOK.
Hy nek is best known, however, for his apparent endo rsement of extraterrestrial
theories concerning UFOs after concluding his associations with the Air Force.
When asked about his recollections of Hynek, Kittinger stated that when
they were associated , from 1958 to 1963, they discussed UFOs at length. 224

117
 At that time, Hynek was steadfast in his opi nion that mo t, if not all , UFO
sightings could be resolved by applyi ng known scienti fic analysis. 225 Kittinger
sai d he was "f1 abb rgasted" when, years later, Hy nek ap peared to reverse
his opinion and endo rse extraterrestrial explanatio ns.226 Hy nek's reversal
in ph ilosophies led to numerous commerci al ende avors, most notably as a
technical advisor for the science-fiction film Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Also, based on his exp rience with proj ect STARGAZER, Hynek was
familiar with balloon operations at Holl oman AFB. visiting the Holloman
Balloon Branch several times.227 Interestingly, th re is no record that Hynek,
who died in 1986, ever endorsed what is now presented as the "best evidence"
of UFOs. the so-called Roswell Incident, which was actually a conglomeration
of numerous events, some with origins in Holloman AFB launched balloons .

The Alien at the Hospital

In at least one account of the Roswell Incident, a witness claimed
he observed a "creature" walk under its own power into the hospital. 228
While the specifics of this particular sighting cannot be verified, the injury
that caused Fulgham's head to swell, resembling the classic science-fiction
alien head, makes this account (and some others) that at first appeared to be
the work of over-active imaginations, seem possible.

1045 hro

""no

II ' .CT._"'. ,I ,n '.ntl'I T, t~-" .. ~o-r:~~~~''':'''-~''

PHnltAL "-MILA

N CI ::::.':.
II .... - " '.. ~ - ,,<I ..
~. _ ... . , . . _! _ _ .~t _ .,.,. _ . _<u r t . . . . -...........
Fig . 27. Clinical Record
Cover Sheet from medical
tESt!! E EASO. rAPT U3AJ' Me records of Capt. Dan D.
Fulgham describing injuries
00 ' ~t 481-3 -...-. DP W . t .. __ _ ....... _ " " ' - .
>l:. ..... . _ _ ~_'"- ............. _ .., he received in the baliloon
accident on May 21,1959.

11 8
 When the balloon gondola struck Fulgham' s head, he received,
according to his clinical record from May 21, 1959, an "Extensive
hematoma forehead and ant [anterior] scalp."229 A hematoma is a
localized blood-filled swelling, that in this instance was on the forehead.
The hematoma resulted in immediate fac ial swelling, two black eyes and
later caused his skin to tum yellow.230
The rapid onset of the swelling caused both of Fulgham's eyes to
close. As it progressed, according to Kittinger who accompanied Fulgham
at the hospital, "His whole face had swollen up and his nose barely
protruded."23 l This appearance lead Kittinger to characterize Fulgham's
appearance at the time as "just a big blob" and "grotesque,"232
When interviewed, Fulgham remembered that even though he
didn't feel bad, "I didn't know how bad 1 looked." There was no attempt to
hide or limit Fulgham's exposure to persons in the hospital that day. In fact,
when he arrived at the hospital Fulgham recalled that he stopped outside the
building to smoke a cigarette. Kaufman also recalled that the injured pilots,
Fulgham and Kittinger, waited for treatment on a bench in the hallway of the
hospital. Kaufman added that a number of military wives were present in the
hospi tal that day for prenatal care, and there was no effort to keep Fulgham
from their view.233

Fig 28 . Capt. Dan D. Fulgham

at Wright-Patterson AFB.
Ohio several days after the
balloon accident with a
"traumatic hematoma" on his
forehead. This photo shows
Fulgham after blood had been
aspirated from und er his scalp
and a substantial amount of
swelling had dissipated.
Concerns that Fulgham's
odd appearance might startle
uninformed persons was why
he was returned to Wright-
Patterson AFB aboard a
specially arranged flight from
Holloman AF B, N. M. (photo
collection of Dan D. Fulgham)

119
"Bodies" with Large Heads
and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
UFO theorists contend that the U.S. Army Air Forces secretly
shipped the alien bodies with large heads to Wright-Patterson AFB for
further processing and deep-freeze storage. However, it is likely that, in this
account, this is a reference to Fulgham's return to Wright-Patterson AFB
following the balloon mishap.
Although Fulgham did not require hospitalization at Walker AFB,
upon his return to Holloman AFB he was admitted to the base hospital for
observation. Three days later on May 24, 1959, the balloon pilots were
flown from Hol1oman to Wright-Patterson AFB on a specially arranged flight
aboard a C-131 hospital aircraft. 234
The return to Wright-Patterson AFB was directed by Stapp and
coordinated by Kittinger. 235 The preliminary arrangements for this flight
were made by Kittinger while at the Walker AFB hospita1. 236 Kittinger
recalled that conversations with Stapp regarding their return to Wright-
Patterson AFB were made by phone in busy areas of the hospital and these
conversations could have been overheard by nearly anyone present. 237
Upon their arrival at Wright-Patterson, Fulgham, who Kittinger did
not want to transport on a commercial flight due to his odd appearance, stili
could not open his eyes and had to be led down the steps of the aircraft.
Kittinger recalled that Fulgham's wife was waiting at the bottom of the
aircraft steps when they arrived.
"They dropped the ramp and I looked down at the bottom and there
was Dan Fulgham's wife," Kittinger said. "Dan couldn't see .. .so I grabbed
him by the ann ... Dan 's wife sees me leading this blob down the staircase ...
and she looks right at me and says, 'Where 's my husband?' I said, 'Ma'am,
this is your husband'. I presented her this blob that I was leading down the
ramp. And she let out this scream you could hear a mile away. He was such
a horrendous looking thing that she had no idea that the thing I was leading
down that ramp was her husband."238

Fig. 29. As a physiologist for

the space program, Fulgham
(third from left) discusses
Project G EMINI emergency
escape systems at th e U.S.
Navy Aerospace Recovery
facility at El Centro, Calif. on
January 28 , 1965. Shown with
Fulgham (from left) are NASA
astronaut Jim Lovell , NASA
project engineer Hilary Ray,
and NASA astronaut Alan
Bean. (U.S. Navy photo)

120
Fig. 30. A veteran of 100
combat missions during the
Korean conflict, Fulgham new
133 combat missions in F-4
aircralt (shown here) in 1966-
67 as a member of the 555th
'Triple Nickel" Tactical Fighter
Squadron at Ubon Air Base,
Thailand. (photo collectioll of
Dall D: Fulgham)

Fulgham recalled that upon his return to work at the Aero Medical
Laboratory he received reactions of "immediate compas ionate sympathy"
from persons he encountered, including his secretary, who cried when she
saw him.239 Within several weeks, Fulgham returned to fl ying status with
no permanent effects . Fulgham went on to complete a distinguished career
in the Air Force and retired as a colonel in 1978. Fulgham's assignments
included combat tours in fighter aircraft in both Korea and Vietnam, as well
as an assignment as an experimental parachutist and physiologist for the
space program.

Summary
In this section, documented research revealed that the reports of
"bodies" at the Roswell AAF hospital were grossly inaccurate and most
probably had origins in actual Air Force mishaps. Examinations of official
records of the alleged primary witnesses revealed that the "missing nurse"
was never missing, and the pediatrician did not arrive at the Walker AFB
hospital until 195 I- four years after the alleged incident. The many
fundamental errors in the story, combined with the substantial similarities to
the actual mishaps, show that the most credible account associated with the
"Roswell Incident" is certainly not extraterrestrial and is unrelated to any
events that occurred in July 1947.

12 l
 Conclusion
When critically examined, the claims that the U .S. Army Air
Forces recovered a flying saucer and alien crew in 1947, were found to be
a compilation of many verifiable events. For the most part, the descriptions
collected by UFO theorists were of actual operations and tests carried out by
the U.S. Air Force in the 1950s. Despite the usual unsavory accusations by
UFO proponents of cover-up, conspiracy, intimidation, etc., documented
research revealed that many of the activities were actually historic scientific
achievements of which the Air Force i very proud. However, other
descriptions are believed to be distorted references to Air Force members
who were killed or injured in the line of duty. The incomplete and inaccurate
intermingling of these actual events were grounded in just enough fact
to weave a sensational story, but cannot withstand close scrutiny when
compared to official records.
To analyze reports of alien bodies that at first appeared to be so
offbeat as to not be remotely based in fact, it was necessary to evaluate a
wide range of books, interviews, videos, etc., that a less objective review
might have rejected out of hand. Only through an inclusive evaluation of
these sources were Air Force researchers able to understand the interconnectivity
of the widely separated events believed responsible for this "incident." And,
in opposition to critics who believe Air Force research involving this subject
is anything but objective, this research relied almost exclusively on the
descriptions provided by the UFO proponents themselves. When collected
and examined, the actual statements of the witnesses- Dot the extraterrestrial
interpretations of UFO proponents- indicated that something was very
wrong. When these descriptions were compared to documented Air Force
activities, they were much too similar to be a coincidence. Soon, it became
apparent that the witnesses or the UFO proponents who liberally interpreted
their statements were either 1) confused, or 2) attempting to perpetrate
a hoax, believing that no serious efforts would ever be taken to verify
their stories.
In preparing this report, attempts were made not to only explain what
conclusions were reached, but how they were reached. This undertaking was
to try to de-mystify the research process by outlining the simple and logical
research techniques that identified the underlying actual events. In regard
to statements of witnesses that were clearly descriptions of Air Force activities,
such as those that described anthropomorphic dummies, these could be
generously viewed as situational misunderstandings or even honest mistakes.

123
 Fig. 31. Plaque placed at
Holloman AFB honoring three
Ball oo n Branch members
kil led durin g a high a1ltitude
balloon recovery when their
L-20 balloon chase plane
crashed in the rugged Gi la
Mountains near Stafford, Ariz.
(US. Ail' Force photo)

Fig. 32. (Left) The bailioon

launch facility at Holloman
AFB N .M . was named in
ho no r of M aj. Richard L.
Ne nninger who died of
injuries received in an ai rcraft
crash during a balloo n
recove ry miss ion Of) April 7,
1970 in t he Sacramento
Mountains near Ruidoso , N.M .
(US. Ail' Force photo)
Fig. 33 . (Right) A semi-
conscious Capt. Joseph W.
Kittinger. Jr., following the
E XC ELSIOR [ parachute jump
from 76,000 feet. W ith his
parachute wrapped around
his neck and bod y and
hopelessly out of control .
his life was saved by an
j ngeniously designed
reserve parachute . ys tem
that opened just moments
before contacting the desert
floor; Whi te Sands Proving
Ground , Nov ember 16, 1959.
(US. Air Force photo)

124
Other descriptions, particularly those believed to be thinly veiled references to
deceased or injured Air Force members, are difficult to view as naive
misunderstandings. Any attempt to misrepresent or capitalize on tragic incidents
in which Air Force members died or were injured in service to their country
significantly alters what would otherwise be viewed as simple
misinterpretations or honest mistakes.
Finally, after reviewing this report, some persons may legitimately
ask why the Air Force expended time and effort to respond to mythical, if not
comedic, allegations of recoveries of "flying saucers" and "space aliens."
The answer to those persons is:

Initially the Air Force was required to respond to an official

request from the General Accounting Office.
High altitude balloon research, aircraft escape systems,
and other technologies that were misrepresented as part of the
Roswell Incident, accounted for ignifican t contributions to the
knowledge of the atmosphere, to the quest for space flight, and
to the defense of this nation. The U.S. Air Force is exceedingly
proud of these accomplishments. Distorted and incomplete
descriptions of these activities do not pay tribute to these
important exploit or to the individuals who, often at great
personal risk, boldly carried them out.
A sobering reality of the mission of the U. S. Air Force, as
evidenced by the aircraft mishaps described in this report, is that
defending this nation is a dangerous profession. On a daily basis,
members of the U.S. Air Force perform hazardous missions in
many locations throughout the world . Unfortunately, these
missions sometimes result in injuries or deaths. It is the right-
and indeed the duty------{)f the Air Force to challenge those who
attempt to exploit these human tragedies wherever, and whenever,
they are discovered.
The misrepresentations of Air Force activities as an extraterrestrial
"incident" is misleading to the public and is simply an affront to
the truth.

This comprehensive fu rther examination of the so-called "Roswell

Incident" found no evidence whatsoever of flying saucers, space aliens, or
sinister government cover-ups. But, even if unintentionally, it did serve to
highlight a series of events that embody the proud history of the finest air
force in the world- the U.S. Air Force. The actual events examined here,
rich in human and scientific triumph, tempered by the stark realities of the
dangers of the Air Force mis ion, are but one small portion of that history.
The many Air Force activities cobbled together in the ever changing collage
that has become the "Roswell Incident," when examined in the clear light of
historical research, revealed a remarkable chapter of the Air Force story. In
the final analysis, this examination simply illustrates once again, that fact is
indeed stranger, and often much more fascinating, than fiction .

125
 Notes - Section One
1. Headquarters United States Air Force, The Roswe ll Report: Fact
VS. Fiction in the New Mexico Desert (Washington, D.C. : U.S.
Government Printing Office, 1995), 20-22.
2. ibid.
3. Don Berliner and Stanton T. Friedman, Crash at Corona
(New York: Paragon House, 1992), 14.
4. Headquarters United States Air Force, The Roswell Report: Fact
\IS. Fiction in the Ne w Mexico Desert (Washington , D.C.: U.S.
Government Printing Office, 1995), 20-22.
5. Ted Bloecher, Report of the UFO Wav e of 1947 (Washington D.C. :
author, 1967),1-13-14.
6. Combined History, 509th Bomb Group and Roswell Army Airfield,
1 July-3 1 Jul y 1947, 39, Air Force Historical Research Agency,
Maxwell AFB, AL.
7. Roswell Daily Reco rd, July 9,1947,1 .
8. Socorro (N.M.) Defen sor Chieftan, November 4, 1992.
9. DOD Berliner, A Rebuttal of the Air Force Project Mogul Explanation
for the 1947 Roswell, Ne w Mexico, UFO Crash (Mount Ranier, Md. :
The Fund for UFO Research, 1995), 2.
10. Headquarters United States Air Force, The Roswell Report: Fact
vs. Fiction in the Ne w Mexico Desert (Washington D.C.: U.S.
Government Printing Office, 1995 ), Attachment 32, Synopsis of
Balloon Research Findings, by 1st Lt. James McAndrew, 9.
] 1. Don Berliner and Stanton T. Friedman, Crash at Corona
(New York: Paragon House, 1992), 14.
12. Video, Recollections of Roswell, Part II, Gerald Anderson interview
(Washington, D. C. : Fund for UFO Research, 1993) (hereafter
Recollections of Roswell, Part II) .
13. James Ragsdale, transcript of interview with Donald R. Schmitt,
January 26, 1994.
14. Frank J. Kaufman, interview with Kevin Randle and Donald Schmitt,
January 27, 1990.

127
 Notes - Section One
15. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, Maltais interview.
16. ibid. , Anderson interview.
17 . ibid.
18. ibid., Maltais interview.
19. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, Anderson interview.
20. Charles Berlitz and William L. Moore, The Roswell Incident
(New York: Berkley, 1980),61.
21 . ibid.
22. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, Alice Knight interview.
23. Ragsdale and Recollections of Ros well, Pa rt II, Anderson interview.
24. ibid.
25. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, Anderson interview.
26. Ragsdale.
27 . James M. Grimwood, Project Mercury: A Chronology, Report No.
SP4001 (Wash. D.C.: NASA, 1963) 2-3, and Lloyd MaHan, Men,
Rockets and Space Rats, (New York: Julian Messier Inc., 1955) 84- 98.
28 . Research Division, College of Engineering, New York University,
Technical Report No. 93.02, Constant Level Balloons, Section 3,
Summary of Flights, July 15, 1949.
29. Capt. Vincent Mazza and Capt. Richard V. Wheeler, High Altitude
Bailouts, MCREXD-695 -66M (Wright-Patterson APB, OH: USAF
Air Materiel Command, September 18, 1950), 10-11.
30. A. M. Jacobs, "The Flier's SOS ," St. Nicholas Ma gazine,
Vol. LIT, No. 10 (August 1925), 1034-1039.
31. ibid.
32. Memo, Major H.H. Arnold, Chief Field Service Section , to
Commanding Officer, San Antonio Air Depot, subj: Drop Testing
of Parachutes, November 2, 1929. National Air and Space Museum
Archives, Paul E. Garber Facility, Silver Hill, Md., file no. 45 2.031,
Parachutes- (Dummies) 1927- 1929.
33. J. Allen Neal, History: Development of Me thods for Escape from
High Speed Aircraft, Vol. 1, (Wright-Patterson APB, OH: Air
Research and Development Command, 1958), U.S. Air Force
Museum Archives, Wright-Patterson APB , OH.

128
 Notes - Section One
34. Memo, Ted Smith, to W.A. Daler, subj: Bid for Purchase Request
No. 301200, September 17, 1954, National Archives and Records
Administration, Accession No. 342-67E-2954 , box 5/ 15, file 28 .

35. H.T. E. Hertzberg, Anthropology ofAnthropomorphic Dummies, Air Force

Medical Research Laboratory, AMRL-TR-69-61, February 1970, 3.

36. Maj. John P. Stapp, Human Tolerance to Linear Deceleration, Part I.

Preliminary Survey of the Aft Facing Seated Position, Air Force Technical
Report 5915, (Wright Patterson AFB, OH: Wright Air Development
Center, 1949) and Maj. John P. Stapp, Part II. The Aft Facing Position and
the Development of a Crash Harness, Air Force Technical Report 5915
(Wright Patterson AFB , OH: Wright Air Development Center, 1951).

37. H.T. E. Hertzberg, Anthropology of Anthropomorphic Dummies, Air Force

Medical Research Laboratory, AMRL-TR-69-61 February 1970, 3.

38. ibid.

39. itr., H.L. Daulton, Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer, Sierra

Engineering Company, to W.A. Daler, Headquarters Air Materiel
Command, subject: Proposal, Purchase Request No. 301200, September
16, 1954, National Archives and Records Administration, Accession
No. 342-67E-2954, box 5/ 15, file 28.

40. Joseph Smrcka, Senior Design Engineer, First Technology Safety

Systems, "Dummies - Past and Present," 2 (unpublished manuscript).

41. Sierra Engineering Co., "Sierra Sam," 1955, National Archives and
Records Administration, Accession No. 342-67E-2954, box 5/ 15, file 28.

42. 1st Lt. Raymond A. Madson, High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops, Part I.
The Unstabilized Dummy Drops, WADC Technical Report 57-477, (Wright
Patterson AFB, OH: Wright Air Development Center, Oct 1957) (hereafter
High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops Part I), 27, and 1st Lt. Raymond A.
Madson, High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops, II. The Stabilized Dummy
Drops, WADC Technical Report 57-477 (II) (Wright Patterson AFB, OH:
Aeronautical Systems Division, Air Force Systems Command, August
1961) (hereafter High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops Part II), 18.

43. High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops Part I, 1.

44. High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops Part /, and High Altitude Balloon
Dummy Drops Part Il, and Holloman Air Development Center, Weekly Test
Status Reports, Project MX-1 450B (Manned Balloon), National Archives
and Records Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis,
MO, Accession No. 342-62A-A-641 , box 115/248, folder; R-695-61D,
"High Altitude Escape Studies, Oen B-1, Manned Balloon Flights."

129
 Notes - Section One
45. ibid.
46. High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops Part I, 1, and High Altitude Balloon
Dummy Drops Part II, 18.

47. Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr. , The Long, Lonely Leap, (New York: E.P.
Dutton & Co., Inc., 1961), and Lt. Col. David G. Simons, Man High, (New
York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1960), and Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger,
Jr., ''The Long, Lonely Leap," National Geographic 118, no. 6 (December
1960): 854-873, "Fantastic Catch in the Sky, Record Leap towards Earth,"
Life 49, no. 9 (August 29,1960): 20-25, Popular Mechanics Magazine,
January 1951: 118, Collier's, June 25, 1954, Time, September 12, 1955,
"The Fastest Man on Earth".
48. Don Reilly, ''MAD Salutes an Unsung Hero," MAD, no. 61, (March 1961),46.
49. High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops Part I, and High Altitude Balloon
Dummy Drops Part II.

50. High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops Part II, 11 -12.

51. Signed, sworn statement of Raymond A. Madson, Lt. Col., USAF (Ret)
and High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops, Part J, 16.
52. High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops, Part I, 5.

53. High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops, Part I, 17.

54. ibid, and Memorandum, subj: Balloon Tracking and Recovery Equipment, n.d.,
National Archives and Records Administration, Accession No. 342-67B-2133,
box 65/249, file 2, ''Biophysics Branch-Escape Section, High Altitude Escape
Studies, 7218-71719," and Robert Blankenship, retired Balloon Branch Recovery
Supervisor, telephone interview with IstLt. James McAndrew, July 14, 1995.
55. Signed, sworn statement of Raymond A. Madson, Lt. Col., USAF (Ret).
56. Blankenship, and Balloon Tracking and Recovery Equipment, n.d., and
Bernard D. Gildenberg, Meteorological Aspects of Constant-Level Balloon
Operations in the Southwestern United States (hereafter Meteorological
Aspects of Constant-Level Balloon Operations in the Southwestern United
States), AFCRL-66-706 (L.G. Hanscom Field, Bedford, MA: Air Force
Cambridge Research Laboratories, October 1966), 27.
57 . Historical Branch, Office of Information Services, Air Force Missile
Development Center, Contributions of Balloon Operations to Research and
Development at the A ir Force Missile Development Center HoliomanAFB,
N. Mex. 1947-1958 (Holloman AFB, NM: Air Research and Development
Command, 1958) (hereafter Contributions of Balloon Operations to Research
and Development at the Air Force Missile Development Center, J947-1958), 90.

130
 Notes - Section One
58. High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops, Part I, 16.
59. ibid., l7 .

60. High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops, Part I, 17.

61. Maj. John P. Stapp, Human Tolerance to Linear Deceleration, Part I.
Preliminary Survey of the Aft Facing Seated Position, Air Force Technical
Report 5915, (Wright Patterson AFB, OH: Wright Air Development
Center, ] 949) and Maj. John P. Stapp, Part II. The Aft Facing Position and
the Development of a Crash Harness, Air Force Technical Report 5915
(Wright Patterson AFB, OH: Wright Air Development Center, 1951).
62. High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops, Part ll, 6.
63 . Signed, sworn statement of Joseph W. Kittinger. Jr. Col., USAF (R~t) .

64. ibid.
65 . Alderson Research Laboratories, Inc., "Instructions for Operation and
Maintenance, Model F-95 Anthropomorphic Test Dummies," May 3, 1956,
1, and Glenn Richards, retired Balloon Branch Instrumentation Specialist,
telephone interview with Capt. James McAndrew, September 5, 1995.
66. Alderson Research Laboratories, Inc. , "Instructions for Operation and
Maintenance, Model F-95 Anthropomorphic Test Dummies:' May 3, 1956, 1,
and Ronald G. Hansen, Lt. Col. USAR, (Ret), Balloon Recovery Helicopter
Pilot, telephone interview with 1st Lt. James McAndrew, May 1, 1995.
67. High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops, Part 1, 7-8.
68. Blankenship.
69. ibid.
70. The Beverly Hills Citizen, March 12, 1956,7.
7 1. Research Division, College of Engineering, New York University,
Special Report No. 1, Constant Level Balloon, May 1947 , 20-22.
72. Research Division, College of Engineering, New York University, Technical
Report No. 93.03, Constant Level Balloons, Operations, March 1, 1951, 105.

73. U.S . Air Force Phillips Laboratory, "Phillips Laboratory Space Experiments
Directorate, Balloon, Rocket, and Satellite Capabilities," n.d., 33.
74. Bernard D. Gildenberg, Balloon Branch Meteorologist and Engineer,
interviewed by 1st Lt. James McAndrew, May 28 , 1995, and
Contributions of Balloon Operations 1947-1958, 73.
75. ibid.

131
 Notes - Section One
76. ibid.
77. Contributions oj Balloon Operations 1947-1958, 73.
78. "Flight Summary, Non-Extensible Balloon Operations, 6580th Test
Squadron (Special), June 1950 to October 1954," 22-24.
79. Contributions oj Balloon Operations 1947-1958, 73-74.
80. Lt. Col. David G. Simons (MC), Stratosphere Balloon Techniques Jor
Exposing Living Specimens to Primary Cosmic Ray Particles, Holloman
Air Development Center TR 54- 16, November 1954, 10-11.
81. "Flight Summary Non-Extensible Balloon Operations 6580th Test
Squadron (Special), June 1950 to October 1954," 1-31, and
. Contributions oj Balloon Operations 1947-1958, 24.
82. "Flight Summary Non-Extensible Balloon Operations 6580th Test
Squadron (Special), June 1950 to October 1954," 4.
83 . Research Divi ion, College of Engineering, New York University,
Technical Report No. 93.02, Constant Level Balloons, Section 3, Summary
oj Flights, July IS, 1949,32, in Headquarters United States Air Force, The
Roswell Report: Fact vs. Fiction in the New Mexico Desert (Washington,
D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1995), Appendix 12.
84. Holloman Air Development Center, "Test Report on Radar Target
Balloon ", October 31, 1955, Air Force Historical Research Agency,
Maxwell, AFB, AL, Reel # 31811, Frame 1139, and Contributions of
Balloon Operations 1947-1958, 40-45.
85 . Kevin C. Ruffner, ed., Corona: America 's First Satellite Program
(Washington, D.C.: Center for the Study of Intelligence, Central
Intelligence Agency, 1995), 22.
86. ibid., 21-22.
87. Air Force Missile Development Center, "Chronology of Events,"
Sept. 1, 1957- Aug 10, 1962, Air Force Historical Research Agency,
Maxwell, AFB, AL, Reel # 31731 , Frame 561 , and Flight Records of
Bernard D. Gildenberg, Meteorologist, Holloman AFB Balloon Branch,
October 12, 1956 - March 14 1961.
88. Flight Summary, DrscovERER Balloon Flights, March 3 1, 1960-
April 22, 1960, Air Force Hi torical Research Agency, Maxwell, AFB,
AL, Reel# 31811 , frame 569.
89. ibid.

90. ibid.

132
 Notes - Section One
91. Kevin C. Ruffner, ed., Corona: America 's First Satellite Program
(Washington, D.C.: Center for the Study of Intelligence, Central
Intelligence Agency, 1995), 21 -22.
92. ibid.
93. ibid.
94. Martin Marietta Corporation, "Viking '75, Balloon Launched Decelerator
Test Program Post Hight Report, BLDT Vehicle AV-3," TR 3720293, 1972,
IV-I and Edward J. Kirschner, Aerospace Balloons; From Montgo/fiere
to Space (Blue Ridge Summit, Pa.: Aero Publishers, 1985),64-66.
95 . Martin Marietta Corporation, "Viking '75, Balloon Launched
Decelerator Test Program Post FUght Report, BLDT Vehicle AV-3,"
TR 3720293, 1972, IV-I.
96. Kevin D. Randle and Donald R. Schmitt, The Truth About the UFO
Crash at Roswell (New York: Avon Books, 1994), photograph section.
97. Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories, "Report on Research, for the
Period July 1965 - June 1%7", AFCRL TR-68-OO39, November 1967, 150-151.
98. Gildenberg.
99. Database of high altitude balloon operations on file at SAF/AAZD
compiled from the following sources: Research Division, College of
Engineering, New York University, Technical Report No. 93.02,
Constant Level Balloons, Section 3, Summary of Flights, July 15, 1949;
"Flight Summary Non-Extensible Balloon Operations 6580th Test
Squadron (Special), June 1950 to October 1954," National Archives and
Records Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis,
Mo., Accession No. 342-62A-181, box 14/18; Flight Records of
Bernard D. Gildenberg, Meteorologist, Holloman APB Balloon Branch.,
October 12,1956 - March 14,1961 ; "Summary of Balloon Flights
Launched from Holloman AFB , N.M. , 1962 thru 1987", Space and
Missile Command, Test and Evaluation Unit (SMCITE, OL-AC) files,
Holloman AFB, N.M. Additional flight data on file (microfilm), U.S. Air
Force Phillips Laboratory, Geophysics Directorate, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
100. Bernard D. Gildenberg, Meteorological Aspects of Constant-Level
Balloon Operations in the Southwestern Un ited States, AFCRL-66-706
(L.G. Hanscom Field, Bedford, MA: Air Force Cambridge Research
Laboratories, October 1966), and Bernard D. Gildenberg, General
Philosophy and Techniques of Balloon Control, in Lewis A. Grass, ed.,
Proceedings, Sixth A FCRL Scientific Balloon Symposium,
AFCRL-70-0543, (L.G. Hanscom Field, Bedford, Mass.: Air Force
Cambridge Research Laboratories, October 1970).

133
 Notes - Section One
101. Blankenship.
102. ibid.
103. ibid.
104. ibid.
105. ibid.
106. Joseph Longshore, Balloon Branch Supervisor, telephone interview
with Capt. James McAndrew, August 16, 1995.
107. Signed sworn statement of James Ragsdale in Ragsdale Productions
Inc., The Jim Ragsdale Story: A Closer Look at the Roswell Incident
(Hall Poorbough Press, Inc., 1996), 10-11 , and signed sworn statement
of James Ragsdale in Karl T. PfIock, Roswell in Pe rspective
(Washington, D.C.: Fund for UFO Research, 1994), 167.
108. James Ragsdale, interview with Donald R. Schmitt, January 26, 1993.
109. High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops, Part II, 17.
110. High A ltitude Balloon Dummy Drops Part 1, 27-30 and High Altitude
Balloon Dummy Drops, Part II, 6, 10-12, 17.
111. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr., Col., US AF (Ret), interview with
Ist Lt. James McAndrew, June 23 , 1995.
11 2. Contributions of Balloon Operations to Research and Development
at the Air Force Missile Development Center,J947-1958, 90, and
Meteorologlcal Aspects of Constant-Level Jja lloon Operations in The
South western United States, 1.
113 . High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops Part I, 24.
11 4. Blankenship and Kittinger.
115. ibid.
116. Memorandum, subj: Balloon Tracking and Recovery Equipment, n.d.,
National Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel
Records Center, St. Louis, Mo., Accession No. 342-67B-2133, box
65/249, file 2, "Biophysics Branch-Escape Section, High Altitude
Escape Studies, 72 18-7 1719."
117. ibid., and Blankenship .
118. Charles Berlitz and William L. Moore, The Roswell Incident (New
York: Berkley, 1980),64, and Don Berliner and Stanton Friedman,
Crash at Corona (New York: Paragon House, 1992), 88.
119. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, Knight interview.
120. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, Maltais interview.

134
 Notes - Section One
121. Charles Berlitz and William L. Moore, The Roswell Incident (New
York: Berkley, 1980), 64, and Don Berliner and Stanton Friedman,
Crash at Corona (New York: Paragon House, 1992),88.
122. Berliner and Friedman, 89.
123. Mark Rodeghier and Fred Whiting, The Plains of San Agustin Controversy,
July, 1947: Gerald Anderson, Barney Barnett, and the Archaeologists,
Introduction (Chicago, ll.." Washington, D.C.: 1. Allen Hynek Center for
UFO Studies and The Fund for UFO Research, June 1992), 2.
124. ibid.
125. Kevin D. Randle, Donald R. Schmitt, and Thomas 1. Carey, Gerald
Anderson and the Plains of San Agustin, in The Plains of San Agustin
Controversy, July, 1947: Gerald Anderson, Barney Barnett, and the
Archaeologists (Chicago, IL, Washington, D.C.: J. Allen Hynek Center
for UFO Studies, and The Fund for UFO Research, June 1992), 19.
126. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, Anderson interview.
127. Berliner and Friedman, 90.
128. ibid., 91.
129. Gerald F. Anderson, interview with Kevin D. Randle, February 4,
1990, in The Plains of San Agustin Controversy, July, 1947: Gerald
Anderson, Barney Barnett, and the Archaeologists (Chicago, IL,
Washington, D.C.: J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies and The
Fund for UFO Research, June 1992),59.
130. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, Anderson interview.
131. ibid.
132. ibid.
133. ibid.
134. ibid.
135. Blankenship and Kittinger.
136. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, Anderson interview.
137. "Sierra Sam: Scientific Whipping Boy," Machine Design, December
22, 1960 and "Dummy Takes a Beating for Science's Sake," Aviation
Week, January 12, 1953.
138. Ragsdale.
139. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, Anderson interview.
140. Alderson Research Laboratories Inc., "Modular Series Anthropomorphic
Test Dummies," Alderson Research Laboratories Inc., June 1955),5.

135
 Notes - Section One
141. Recollections of Roswell, Part Il, Anderson interview.
142. ibid.
143 . Signed, sworn statement of Raymond A. Madson, Lt. Col., USAF (Ret) .
144. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, Anderson interview.
145 . High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops, Part 1,22.
146 . Recollections of Roswell, Part 1/, Anderson interview.
147 . High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops, Part /, 9, and High Altitude
Balloon Dummy Drops, Part Il, 8 ..
148. Berliner and Friedman, 91.
149. ibid ., 92-94.
150. Recollections of Roswell, Part Il, Anderson interview.
151. ibid.
152. Memorandmn, subject Balloon Tracking and Recovery Equipment, n.d., National
Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St.
Louis, Mo., Accession No. 342-678-2133, box 651249, file 2, "Biophysics Bmnch-
Escape Section, High Altitude Escape Studies, 7218-71719;' and High Altitude
Balloon Dummy Drops, Part I, 17, and 'Weekly Test Stahls Report on Project
7218, Manned Balloon Flights, (MX-1450B)", for Week Ending 28 February
1955, National Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel
Records Center, St. Louis, Mo., Accession No. 342-66A-181 , Box 14/18.
153. Kittinger and Historical Branch, Office of Information Services,
Air Research and Development Command, History of Flight Support
Holloman Air Development Center 1946-1957 (Holloman AFB, N.M.:
Holloman Air Development Center, 1957), 101.
154. Blankenship.
155. Berliner and Friedman, 106.
156. Bernard D. Gildenberg, Techniques Developed for Heavy Load Non-
Extensible Balloon Flights, Report No. HADC-TN-54-3 (Holloman
AFB, NM: Holloman Air Development Center, March 1954),7.
157. Recollections of Roswell, Part Il, Anderson interview.
158. Blankenship and Ole Jorgeson, MSgt., USAF, (Ret), Balloon Branch
Communications Supervisor, interview with 1st Lt. James McAndrew,
May 28, 1995.
159. ibid.
160. Berliner and Friedman 107.
161. ibid.

136
 Notes - Section One
162. Blankenship.
163. Berliner and Friedman, 106.
164. Blankenship.
165. Signed sworn statement of James Ragsdale in, Ragsdale Productions
Inc., The lim Ragsdale Story: A Closer Look at the Roswell Incident
(Hall Poorbough Press, Inc., 1996), ] 0-11, and signed sworn
statement of James Ragsdale in Karl T. Pflock, Roswell in Perspective
(Washington, D.C.: Fund for UFO Research, 1994), 167.
166. Ragsdale.
167. Frankl Kaufman, inteJview with Kevin Randle and IXlnaldSchrnitt, January 27,1991
168. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, Anderson interview.
169. Ragsdale.
170. ibid.
17 1. Berliner and Friedman, 92.
172 . Recollections of Roswell, Part II, Maltais interview.
173. ibid., Knight interview.
174. ibid., Anderson interview.
175. ibid., Maltais interview.
176. ibid.
177. ibid., Anderson interview.
178. Ragsdale.
179. Recollections of Roswell, Part Il, Anderson interview.
180. ibid., Maltais interview.
181. ibid., Anderson interview.
182. ibid.
183. ibid., Maltais interview.
184. ibid., Anderson interview.
185 . Charles Berlitz and William L. Moore, Th e Roswell Incident (New
York: Berkley, 1980), 61.
186. Berliner and Friedman, 92.
187. Recollections of Roswell, Part Il, Anderson interview.
188. Berliner and Friedman, 91.
189. ibid.

137
 Notes - Section One
190. ibid., 92.
191. ibid.,9l.
192. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, Maltais interview.
193. Berliner and Friedman, 93 .
194. ibid., 93-94.
195. ibid., 92.
196. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, Anderson interview.
197. Berliner and Friedman, 106.
198. Ragsdale.
199. ibid.
200. Recollections of Roswell, ParI 1I, Anderson interview.
201. ibid.
202. Ragsdale.
203. Recollections of Roswell, Part 1/, Anderson interview.
204. ibid.
205. ibid.
206. Berliner and Friedman, 106.
207 . Ragsdale.
208. Berliner and Friedman, 107.
209. Recollections of Roswell, Part 11, Anderson interview.
210. ibid.
211. Ragsdale.
212. Recollections of Roswe ll, Part II, Anderson interview.
213. Ragsdale.
214. Recollections of Roswell, Part 1I, Anderson interview.
215. Ragsdale.
216. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, Anderson interview.
217 . ibid.
218. Berliner and Friedman, 107.

138
 Notes - Section Two
1. Karl T. PfIock, "Star Witness: The Mortician of Roswell Breaks His
Code of Silence, " Omni, Fall 1995, 103 .
2. Don Berliner and Stanton T. Friedman, Crash at Corona (New York:
Paragon House, 1992), 11 7, 120, and W. Glenn Dennis interview with
Karl T. Pfiock, November 2, 1992, 18-19.
3. Video, Recollections of Roswell, Part II, W. Glenn Dennis interview
(Washington, D.C.: Fund for UFO Research, 1993) (hereafter
Recollections of Roswell, Part If).
4. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, W. Glenn Dennis interview.
5. ibid.
6. ibid.
7. ibid.
8. ibid., and W. Glenn Dennis, interview with Karl T. Pflock, November 2,
1992, and Karl T. Pflock, "Star Witness: The Mortician of Roswell
Breaks His Code of Silence," Omni, Fall 1995, 103.
9. Karl T. Pflock, "Star Witness: The Mortician of Roswell Breaks His
Code of Silence," Omni, Fall 1995, 103.
10. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, W. Glenn Denni interview.
11. ibid.
12. ibid.
13. Don Berliner and Stanton T. Friedman, Crash at Corona (New York:
Paragon House, 1992), 120, and W. Glenn Dennis, interview with Karl
T. Pflock, November 2, 1992.
14. Karl T. Pflock, "Star Witness: The Mortician of Roswel1 Breaks His
Code of Silence, " Omni, Fall 1995, 103.
15. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, W. Glenn Dennis interview.
16. Don Berliner and Stanton T. Friedman, Crash at Corona
(New York: Paragon House, 1992),11 7.
17. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, W. Glenn Dennis interview.
18. ibid.
19. ibid.
20. ibid.

139
 Notes - Section Two
21. W. Glenn Dennis, interview with Stanton T. Friedman, August 5, 1989.
22. Recollections of Roswell, Part Il, W. Glenn Dennis interview.
23. W. Glenn Dennis, interview with Karl T. Pflock, November 2, 1992.
24. RecoLLections of ROSl'vell, Part /I, W. Glenn Dennis interview.
25. W. Glenn Dennis, interview with Karl T. Pflock, November 2, 1992.
26. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, W. Glenn Dennis interview.
27. ibid.
28. ibid.
29. Don Berliner and Stanton T. Friedman, Crash at Corona (New York:
Paragon House, 1992), 119, and Karl T. Pflock, "Star Witness:
The Mortician of Roswell Breaks His Code of Silence," Omni,
Fall 1995, 105.
30. Recollections of Roswell, Part Il, W. Glenn Dennis interview.
31 . ibid.
32. W. Glenn Dennis, interview with Karl T. Pflock, November 2, 1992.
33. ibid.
34. Karl T. Pflock, "Star Witnes : The Mortician of Roswell Breaks His
Code of Silence," Omni, Fall 1995, 105, and W. Glenn Dennis, interview
with Karl T. Pflock, November 2, 1992.
35. Karl T. Pflock, "Star Witness: The Mortician of Roswell Breaks His
Code of Silence," Omni, Fall 1995, 105.
36 W. Glenn Dennis, interview with Stanton T. Friedman, August 5, 1989.
37. ibid.
38. Don Berliner and Stanton T. Friedman, Crash at Corona (New York:
Paragon House, 1992), 119.
39. Headquarters United States Air Force, The Roswell Report: Fact vs.
Fiction in the New Mexico Desert (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government
Printing Office, 1995), Attachment 32, "Synopsis of Balloon Research
Findings by 1st Lt. James McAndrew".
40. 427th AAFBU Sq "M" Morning Reports, July 8-9 1947, National
Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel Records
Center, St. Louis, Mo.
41. Personnel record of 1st Lt. Angele A. (LaRue) Thessing, National
Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel Records
Center, St. Louis, Mo.

140
 Notes - Section Two
42. ibid.
43 . Personnel records of Capt. Joyce Goddard, 1st Lt. Rosemary J. Brown,
1st Lt. Eileen M. Fanton, 1st Lt. Angele A. LaRue, 1st Lt. Claudia
Uebele, National Archives and Records Administration, National
Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
44. Karl T. Pflock, "Star Witness: The Mortician of Roswell Breaks IDs
Code of Silence, " Omni, Fall 1995, 132, and W. Glenn Dennis, interview
with Stanton T. Friedman, August 5, 1989.
45 . Paul McCarthy, "The Case of the Vanishing Nurses," Omni, Fall 1995,
107- 114.
46. WD AGO FORM 66, "Officer's Qualification Record," Personnel
Record of Capt. Eileen M. Fanton, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
47. DD Fonn 214, "Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or
Discharge", April 30, 1958, Personnel file of Capt. Eileen M. Fanton,
National Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel
Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
48. Karl T. Pflock, "Star Witness: The Mortician of Roswell Breaks IDs
Code of Silence," Omni, Fall 1995, 132.
49. WD AGO FORM 66, "Officer's Qualification Record," and
WD AGO FORM 66-3, "AAF Medical Dep't Officer's Qualification
Record," Personnel Record of capt. Eileen M. Fanton, National
Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel Records
Center, St. Louis, Mo.
50. W. Glenn Dennis, interview with Karl T. Pflock,
November 2,1992.
51. WD AGO FORM 66-3, "AAF Medical Dep't Officer s Qualification
Record," Personnel Record of Capt. Eileen M. Fanton, National
Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel Records
Center, St. Louis, Mo.
52. Karl T. Pflock, "Star Witness : The Mortician of Roswell Breaks IDs
Code of Silence," Omni, Fall 1995, 104 and W. Glenn Dennis, interview
with Karl T. Pflock, November 2, 1992, II, 15.
53. WD AGO FORM 66, "Officer's Qualification Record," Personnel
Record of Capt. Eileen M . Fanton, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
54. ibid.

141
 Notes - Section Two
55. WD MD FORM 55A, "Clinical Record Brief," September 5, 1947, and
WD AGO FORM 8-38, " Special Examination or Additional Data,"
September II, 1947, Personnel Record of Capt. Eileen M . Fanton,
National Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel
Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.

56. ibid, and Physical Examination Board Proceedings, Capt. Eileen M.

Fanton, August 24, 1955, Personnel Record of Capt. Eileen M. Fanton,
National Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel
Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
57. W. Glenn Dennis, interview with Stanton T. Friedman, August 5, 1989,
and W. Glenn Dennis , interview with Karl T. Ptlock, November 2, 1992.
58. W. Glenn Dennis, interview with Stanton T. Friedman, August 5, 1989.
59. ibid.
60. Roster of Officers, 6th Bomb Wing, Walker AFB, N.M., December 30,
1952, "History of the 6th Bomb Wing, December 1952," Air Force
Historical Research Center, Maxwell AFB, AL.
61. ibid.
62. Dr. Frank B. Nordstrom, interview with Capt. James McAndrew,
April 25, 1996, and Dr. Frank B. Nordstrom, Signed Sworn Statement,
April 25 , 1996.
63. Charles E. Clouthier, Signed Sworn Statement, April 26, 1996.
64. ibid.
65. J.P. Cahn, "Flying Saucers and the Mysterious Little Green Men,"
True 31, No. 184, (September 1952), 19.
66. ibid., 103.
67. ibid . 19.
68. J.p. Cahn, "Flying Saucer Swindlers," True 36, No. 231 , (August 1956), 36.
69. ibid., 36.
70. J.P. Cahn, " Flying Saucers and the Mysterious Little Green Men,"
True 31, No. 184, (September 1952),110.
7 1. ibid.
72. "4 Rank Titles Change," Air Force Times, March 29, 1952, 1, 22.
73. Alan L. Gropman, The Air Force Integrates, 1945-1964 (Washington,
D.C.: Office of Air Force History, 1985),243.

142
 Notes - Section Two
74. Don Berliner and Stanton T. Friedman, Crash at Corona
(New York: Paragon House, 1992),117.
75. WD AGO FORM 66, "Officer' s Qualification Record," and AF FORM
II, "Officer Military Record," Personnel Record of Col. Lee F. Ferrell,
National Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel
Records Center, St. Lou is, Mo.
76. ibid.
77. Karl T. Pflock, "Star Witness: The Mortician of Roswell Breaks His
Code of Silence, " Omni, Fall 1995, 105, and W. Glenn Dennjs, interview
with Karl T. Pflock, Novemb r 2, 1992.
78. Karl T. Pflock, "Star Witness: The Mortician of Roswell Breaks His
Code of Silence, " Omni, Fall 1995, 105.
79. Karl T. Pflock, "Star Witness: The Mortician of Roswell Breaks His
Code of Silence," Omni, Fall 1995, 105, and W. Glenn Denni s, interview
with Karl T. Pflock, November 2, 1992.
80. W. Glenn Dennis, interview with Karl T. Pflock, November 2, 1992.
81. ibid.
82. ibid.
83. 427th AAFBU Sq. "M" Morning Reports, July 1-31,1947 , National
Arc.hives and Records Administration. National Personnel Records
Center, St. Louis Mo.
84. WD AGO FORM 1, "Morning Report," 427th AAFBU Sq. "M," April 1,
1947 through October 1, 1947, and WD AGO FORM 66, "Officer's
Qualification Record," Personnel Record of Capt. Joyce Goddard,
National Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel
Records Center, St. Louis , Mo.
85. WD AGO FORM 66, "Officer's Qualification Record," Personnel
Record of Capt. Joyce Goddard, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
86. WD AGO FORM 1, "Morning Report," 427th AAFBU,
Sq. "M," August 7, 1947, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
87. ibid., and WD AGO FORM 66, "Officer's Qualification Record,"
Personnel Record of Capt. Lucille C. Slattery, National Archives and
Records Administration, National Personnel Records Center,
St. Louis, Mo.

143
 Notes - Section Two
88. Ethel Kovatch-Scott, Col., USAF (Ret) , telephone interview with Capt.
James McAndrew, May 5, 1995 and July 3, 1996, and Mary Hoadley,
Lt. Col., USAF (Ret), telephone interview with 1st Lt. James McAndrew,
May 5, 1995, and Mary L. Wiggins, Maj., USAF (Ret), telephone
interview with 1st Lt. James McAndrew, May 5, 1995 .
89. ibid.
90. WD AGO FORM 66, "Officer's Qualification Record," Personnel
Record of Capt. Lucille C. Slattery, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
91. WD AGO FORM 1, "Morning Report," 427th AAFBU, Sq. "M," 509th
Station Medical Group, 509th Medical Group, 509th Medical Squadron,
January 1947 through February 1952, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo. and
Rosters of Officers, 509th Bomb Wing- February 1952 through July
1958, 6th Bomb Wing- February 1952 through March 1967, and AF
FORM 11, "Officer Military Record," Personnel Record of Maj.
Idabelle M. Wilson, National Archives and R ecords Administration,
National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
92. AF FORM II , "Officer Military Record," Personnel Record of Maj.
ldabelle M. Wilson, National Archives and Records Administration,
National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
93 . ibid.
94. ldabelle M. Wilson, Maj ., USAF, (Ret), telephone interview with
1st Lt. James McAndrew, April 28, 1995.
95. ibid.
96. Memo: Jack A. Comstock, Maj. (MC), Surgeon, 509th Station Medical
Group, to Major Robert W. Schick, Investigating Officer, Headquarters,
USAF, subj: Investigation of B-29 Crash, 18 August 1948, Aircraft
Accident No. 48-8-12, Aircraft #44-86383, Air Force Historical
Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, AL. and WD AGO Form 8-33,
"Clinical Record Brief," 12 August 1948, Personnel records of Air Force
members, service numbers AF 18041408 and AF 16191866, National
Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel Records
Center, St. Louis, Mo .
97 . ibid.
98. ibid.
99. WD AGO Form 8-33, "Clinical Record Brief," 16 May 1949, Personnel
records of Air Force members, service numbers AO 827137 and AF
42050093, National Archives and Records Administration, National
Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.

144
 Notes - Section Two
100. WD AGO Form 5-4, "Individual Crash Fire Report,"
20 May 1949, Aircraft Accident No. 49-5-16, Aircraft #43-48401, Air
Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, AL.
101. WD AGO Form 8-33, "Clinical Record Brief," 16 May 1949, Personnel
records of Air Force members, service numbers AO 827137 and AF
42050093, National Archives and Records Administration, National
Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
102. WD AGO Form 5-4, "Individual Cra b Fire Report,"
19 December 1949, Aircraft Accident No. 49-12- 15-2, Air Force
Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, AL.
103. WD AGO Form 8-33, "Clinical Record Brief," 19 December 1949, and
"Autopsy Report," Personnel records of Air Force member , service
numbers 17343 A, AF 11101085, and 15239923, National Archives and
Records Administration, National Personnel Records Center,
St. Louis , Mo.
104. ibid.
105. WD AGO Form 8-33, "Clinical Record Brief," 1 June 1950, Personnel
records of Air Force members, service numbers AO 685565 and AF
32668639, National Archives and Records Administration, National
Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
106. ibid.
107. ibid.
108. Standard form 503, "Autopsy Protocol," June 16, 1955 of
Air Force members, service numbers AO 3006516 and AO 3004607,
Aircraft Accident No. 55-6-16-6, Air Force Historical Research Agency,
Maxwell AFB, AL.
109. DD Form 481-3, "Clinical Record Cover Sheet," June 16, 1955,
Personnel Records of Air Force members, service numbers AO
3006516 and AO 3004607, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
110. Standard form 503, "Autopsy Protocol," June 16, 1955, of
Air Force members , service numbers AO 3006516 and AO 3004607,
Aircraft Accident No. 55-6-16-6, Air Force Historical Research Agency,
Maxwell AFB, AL.
111. Air Force Form 14b, "Medical Report of an lndividuallnvol ved in AF
Aircraft Accident," 3 October 1955, Aircraft Accident No. 55-10-3-6,
Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, AL.
112. Official Trip Report Walker AFB, N.M. October 4, thru October 7,
1955, George Schwaderer, Identification Specialist to MCTSG,

145
 Notes - Section Two
October 12, 1955, Accession No. 342-65A-6025, Box 25128 , folder
Trip Rpts., Search & Ident: Mar 56 to Dec 56. Trip # 198 to 234,
National Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel
Records Center, St. Louis, Mo. , and AF Form 715 , "Preparation Room
History," 4 October 1955, Personnel Record of Air Force member,
service number 1521BI 2009467, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
11 3. Air Force Form 14b, "Medical Report of an Individual Involved in AF
Aircraft Accident," 3 October 1955, Aircraft Accident No. 55- 10-3-6,
Air Force Hi torical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, AL.
114. Standard form 503, "Autopsy Protocol," June 27, 1956 Personnel
Record of Air Force members, service numbers AO 2223861 and AF
37578524, National Archives and Records Administration, National
ersonnel Records Center, St. Louis, M o.
115, Official Trip Report Walker AFB, N .M. 27 June through 30 June 1956,
George Schwaderer, Identification Sp cialist to Thomas W. Toy, Chief
Memorial Affairs Branch, Air Force Services Division, Accession
No. 342-65A-6025, Box 25/28, folder Trip Rpts., Search & Ident:
Mar 56 to Dec 56. Trip # 198 to 234, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
116. Standard form 503, "Autopsy Protocol;' June 27, 1956, Personnel Record
of Air Force members, service numbers AO 2223 861 and AF 37578524,
National Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel
Records Center, St. LouIs, Mo., and Ah Force Form 14b, "Medical
Report of an Individual Involved in AF Aircraft Accident,' June 26, 1956,
Headquarters Air Force Safety Agency, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
11 7. AF Form 697, "Identification Findings and Conclusions," 3 Feb 1960,
Personnel Records of Air Force members, service numbers
AO 794 152 and 1046844, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
118. ibid.
119. ibid.
120. Charles A. Ravenstein, Air Force Combat Wings; Lineage and Honors
Histories, 1947-1977 (Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing
Office, 1984), 16, 275-276.
121. Air Force Form 14, "Report of Air Force Aircraft Accident," June 26,
1956, Headquarters Air Force Safety Agency, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
122. ibid.
123. ibid.

146
 Notes - Section Two
124. ibid.
125. ibid.
126. Official Trip Report Walker AFB , N.M. 27 June through 30 June 1956,
George Schwaderer, Identification Specialist to Thomas W. Toy, Chief
Memorial Affairs Branch, Air Force Services Division, Accession No .
342-65A-6025, Box 25128 , folder Trip Rpts. Search & Ident: Mar 56
to Dec 56. Trip # 198 to 234, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis Mo.
127. ibid.
128. Jack L. Whenry, Maj., USAt~ (Ret), telephone interview with 1st Lt.
James McAndrew, January 26, 1995, and John C. Walter, MSgt., USAF
(Ret), telephone interview with Capt. James McAndrew, June 29, 1995
and July 12, 1996.
129. ibid.
130. Official Trip Report Walker AFB, N.M. 27 June through 30 June 1956,
George Schwaderer, Identification Specialist to Thomas W. Toy, Chief
Memorial Affairs Branch, Air Force Services Division, Accession No.
342-65A-6025 , Box 25128, folder Trip Rpts., Search & Ident: Mar 56
to Dec 56. Trip # 198 to 234, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
131. ibid.
132. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, W. Glenn Dennis interview, and Karl
T. Pflock, "Star Witness: The Mortician of Roswell Breaks His Code of
Silence, " Omni, Fall 1995, 104.
133. DD Form 481 -3, "Chnical Record Cover Sheet," June 26,1956,
Personnel Record of AF 37578524, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
134. Whenry, Walters, and Air Force Manual 143-1, 1 November 1953,
"Mortuary Affairs," 28, Record Group 341, Entry 36, Box 13, Microfilm
Reel 167, National Archives and Record Administration, College Park, Md.
135. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, W. Glenn Dennis interview.
136. Standard form 503, "Autopsy Protocol," June 27 , 1956, Personnel
Record of Air Force members, service numbers AO 2223 861 and AF
37578524, National Archives and Records Administration, National
Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
137. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, W. Glenn Dennis interview.
138. Standard form 503, "Autopsy Protocol," June 27, 1956, Personnel
Record of Air Force member, service number AF 37578524, National

147
 Notes - Section Two
Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel Records
Center, St. Louis, Mo.
139. ibid.
140. ibid.
14l. Recollections of Roswell. Part II, W. Glenn Dennis interview.
142. Standard form 503, "Autopsy Protocol," June 27, 1956, Personnel
Record of Air Force members, service numbers AO 2223861 and AF
37578524, National Archives and Records Administration, National
Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo., and Air Force Form 14b,
"Medical Report of an Individual Involved in AF Aircraft Accident," June
26, 1956, Headquarters Air Force Safety Agency, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
143. DD Form 481-3 , "Clinical Record Cover Sheet," June 26, 1956,
Personnel Record of Air Force members, service numbers
AO 2223861and AF 37578524, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo .
144. Karl T. Pflock, "Star Witness: The Mortician of Roswell Breaks His
Code of Silence," Omni, Fa111995, 108.
145 . Official Trip Report Walker AFB, N.M. October 4, thru October 7,
1955, George Schwaderer, Identification Specialist to MCTSG,
October 12, 1955, Accession No. 342-65A-6025 , Box 25/28, folder
Trip Rpts., Search & Ident: Mar 56 to Dec 56. Trip # 198 to 234,
National Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel
Records Center, St. Louis, Mo., and AF Form 697, "Identification
Findings and Conclusions," 3 Feb 1960, Personnel Records of Air
Force members, service numbers AO 794152 and 1046844, National
Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel Records
Center, St. Louis, Mo.
146. Air Force Manual 143-1, 1 November 1953, "Mortuary Affairs," 28-29,
Accession No. 341, Entry 36, Box 13, Microfilm Reel 167, National
Archives and Record Administration, College Park, Md.
147. Official Trip Report- Walker AFB, N.M. 27 June through 30 June 1956,
George J. Schwaderer, Identification Specialist, to Thomas W. Toy, Chief
Memorial Affairs Branch, July 5,1956, Accession No. 342-65A-6025,
Box 25128, folder Trip Rpts., Search & Ident: Mar 56 to Dec 56. Trip
# 198 to 234, National Archive!; and Records Administration, National
Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo., and Jack L. Whenry, Maj.,
USAF, (Ret), telephone interview with 1st Lt. James McAndrew, January
26, 1995, and John C. Walter, MSgt., USAF (Ret), telephone interview
with Capt. James McAndrew, June 29, 1995 and July 12, 1996.
148. Walter and Whenry.

l48
 Notes - Section Two
149. ibid.
150. WD AGO FORM 66, "Officer's Qualification Record," and AF FORM
11, "Officer Military Record," Personnel Record of Col. Lee F. Ferrell,
National Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel
Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
151. "Air Force Care of Deceased Personnel (1951-1959), Volume I: Text",
Historical Study No. 236, Call No. K 201 -326, Air Force Historical
Research Agency, Maxwell AFB , AL.
152. Air Force Manual 143-1, 1 November 1953, "Mortuary Affairs," 27,
Accession No. 341, Entry 36, Box 13, Microfilm Reel 167, National
Archives and Record Administration, College Park, Md.
153 . Official Trip Report Walker AFB, N.M. 27 June through 30 June 1956,
George Schwaderer, Identification Specialist to Thomas W. Toy, Chief
Memorial Affairs Branch, Air Force Services Division, July 5, 1956
and Official Trip Report Walker AFB, N.M. October 4, thru October 7,1955,
George Schwaderer Identification Specialist to MLI SG, October 12, 1955,
Accession No. 342-65A-6025, Box 25/28, folder Trip Rpts., Search & Ident:
Mar 56 to Dec 56. Trip # 198 to 234, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center St. Louis, Mo.
154. Official Trip Report Walker AFB, N.M. 27 June through
30 June 1956, George Schwaderer, Identification Specialist to Thomas
W. Toy, Chief Memorial Affairs Branch, Air Force Services Division,
July 5, 1956, Accession No. 342-65A-6025, Box 25128, folder Trip
Rpts., Search & Ident: Mar 56 to Dec 56. Trip # 198 to 234, National
Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel Records
Center, St. Loui , Mo.
155. George 1. Schwaderer, telephone interview with Capt. James
McAndrew, June 28, 1996.
156. ibid.
157 . Air Force Manual 143- 1, 1 November 1953, "Mortuary Affairs," 27,
Accession No. 341, Entry 36, Box 13, Microfilm Reel 167, National
Archives and Record Administration, College Park, Md.
158. Karl T. Pflock, "Star Witness: The Mortician of Roswell Breaks His
Code of Silence," Omni, Fal1 1995, 104.
159. Memo, Charles 1. Stahl, M.D., Anned Forces Medical Examiner, to
Capt. James McAndrew, SAF/AAZD, subj: Request for Information on
Aircraft Crash Fatalities, October 13, 1995.
160. Unit history, 4036 USAF Ho pital, Walker AFB, N.M., June 1956,6,
Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, AL.

149
 Notes - Section Two
161. ibid.
162. Standard form 503, "Autopsy Protocol," June 27, 1956, Personnel
Record of of Air Force members, service numbers AO 2223861and AF
37578524, National Archives and Records Administration, National
Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
163. Air Force Missile Development Center, M AN-HIGH I, MDC-TR-59-24,
1959, and Lt. Col. David G. Simons, M AN HIGH II, Air Force Missile
Development Center, Holloman AFB, N.M., AFMDC-TR-59-28, June
1959, 1, and Air Force Missile Development Center, MA N HIGH Ill,
MDC-TR-60-16,1961.
164. Historical Branch, Office of Information Services, Air Force Missile
Development Center, Air Research and Development Command,
Holloman AFB, N.M., Contributions of Balloon Operations to
Research and Development at the Air Force Missile Development
Center Holloman Air Force Base, N. Mex. 1947-1958 (hereafter
Contributions of Balloon Operations 1947-1958), 11.
165. ibid., and Air Force Missile Development Center FORM 597, Schedule
Request- Project 722214.2- ''Manned Gondola Flight," May 19,20,22, 1959,
Accession No. 342-65B-3185, Box 4/22, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
166. DD FORM 481-3, "Clinical Record Cover Sheet," May 21, 1959,
Personnel Record of Capt. Dan D. Fulgham, National Archives and
Records Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis,
Mo., and Air Force Missile Development Center FORM 597, Schedule
Request- Project 722214.2- "Manned Gondola Flight," May 20, 1959,
Accession No. 342-65B-3185, Box 4/22, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
167. DD Form 613, R&D Progress Card, Project 7164, "Physiology
of Flight," Task 71840, "Life Supporting Systems for Advanced
Vehicles," February 24,1959,30-31 , National Archives and Record
Administration Accession No. 342-75-095, Box 93/100, folder 1, and
Technical "R&D" Record Book, Aeromedical Laboratory, Physiology
Branch, "Life Support System for Orbital Flight," Project 7164, Task
71840, 13-16, National Archives and Record Administration, National
Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo. Accession No. 342-75-095,
Box 93/100, folder 2.
168. Air Force Form 77, "USAF Officer Effectiveness Report, 1 Feb 58 to
31 Jan 59, Personnel Record of Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr., National
Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel Records
Center, St. Louis, Mo., and Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr., The Long,
Lonely Leap, (New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc., 1961 ) 131.

150
 Notes - Section Two
169. Air Force Missile Development Center, Man -High /,
MDC-TR-59-24, 1959.
170. Schedule Request- Project 7222/4 .2- "Manned Gondola Flight,"
May 19,20, 22,1959, Accession No. 342-65B -3185, Box 4122,
National Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel
Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
171. ibid.
172. Ole Jorgeson, MSgt., USAF, (Ret), interview with
1st Lt. James McAndrew, May 28, 1995.
173. Air Force Missile Development Center FORM 597, Schedule Request-
Project 7222/4 .2- "Manned Gondola Flight," May 19, 1959, Accession
No. 342-65B-3 185, Box 4/22, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
174. Air Force Missile Development Center FORM 597, Schedule Request-
Project 722214.2- "Manned Gondola Flight," May 20, 1959, Accession
No. 342-65B-3185, Box 4/22.
175. ibid.
176. ibid.
177. ibid. , and Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr. , Col., USAF (Ret), interview with
1st Lt. James McAndrew, June 23 , 1995.
178. Kittinger
179. ibid.
180. ibid.
181. Dan D. Fulgham, Col., USAF, (Ret) , interview with 1st Lt. James
McAndrew, May 26,1995.
182. ibid. and Standard Form 539, "Abbreviated Clinical Record,"
May 2 1,1959, Personnel Record of Col. Dan D. Fulgham, National
Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel Records
Center, St. Louis, Mo.
183. ibid.
184. Jorgeson and Roland H. Lutz, CMSgt., USAF (Ret), interview with
1st Lt. James McAndrew, May 31, 1995.
185. ibid.
186. Fulgham and William C. Kaufman, Lt. Col., USAF, (Ret), interview
with 1st Lt. James McAndrew, May 24, 1995.
187. ibid.

151
 Notes - Section Two
188. Jorgeson.
189. Kaufman.
190. Signed, sworn statement of Dan D. Fulgham, Col. , USAF, (Ret),
May 25, 1995.
191. Kittinger.
192. ibid.
193 . Video, Recollections of Roswell, Part fl, Gerald Anderson inlerview
(Washington, D.C.: Fund for UFO Research, 1993).
194. Kittinger and Air Force Form 77, "USAF Officer Effectiveness Report,"
1 Feb 58 to 31 Jan 59, Personnel Record of Col. Joseph W. Kittinger,
Jr., National Archives and Records Administration, National Personnel
Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
195 . Kittinger.
196. ibid., and Kaufman.
197. Kittinger.
198. ibid.
199. ibid.
200. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, W. Glenn Dennis interview.
201. Signed, sworn statements of Charles A. CoHman, Col. (MC), USAF,
(Ret), Dan D. Fulgham, Col., USAF, (Ret) Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr.,
Col., USAF, (Ret), Roland H. Lutz, CMSgt., USAF, (Ret), Ole
Jorgeson, MSgt. , USAF, (Ret) , and statement of William C. Kaufman,
Lt. Col., USAF, (Ret).
202. Kittinger.
203. Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr., The Long, Lonely Leap,
(New York: E.P. Dutton & Co., Inc . 1961) 130.
204. Kittinger.
205. Signed, sworn statements of Charles A. Coltman, Col. (MC), USAF,
(Ret), Dan D. Fulgham Col., USAF, (Ret) Joseph W. Kittinger Jr.
Col., USAF, (Ret), Roland H. Lutz, CMSgt., USAF, (Ret), Die
Jorgeson, MSgt., USAF, (Ret), and statement of William C. Kaufman,
Lt. Col., USAF. (Ret).
206. Craig D. Ryan, The Pre-Astronauts, (Annapolis: Naval Institute Press,
1995),200.

152
 Notes - Section Two
207. Air Force Missile Development Center FORM 597, Schedule Request-
Project 7222/4.2- "Manned Gondola Flight: May 19, 1959, Accession
No. 342-65B-3185, Box 4/22, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo. ,
and Memo: Maj . Lawrence M. Bogard, Chief, BaUoon Branch, to
MDWXB, subj: Project 7222,8 May 1959.
208. ibid. , and Jorgeson.
209. Jorgeson.
210. ibid.
211. Recollections of' Roswell, Part II, W. Glenn Dennis interview.
2] 2. ibid.
213. ibid.
214. Karl T. Pflock, "Star Witness: The Mortician of Roswell Breaks His
Code of Silence, " Omni, Fall 1995, 103.
215. Recollections of Roswell, Part II, W. Glenn Dennis interview.
216. Jorgeson.
217. Unit History, 47th Air Division, June 1954, photo section,
Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, AL.
218. Unit History, 6th Bomb Wing, June 1959, Annex "N," "Base Support
Plan, Medical," June 1, 1959.
219. Charles A. Raven tein, Air Force Combat Wings; Lineage and Honors
Histories, 1947-1977 (Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing
Office, 1984), 16.
220. Kaufman.
22 1. ibid.
222. Roland H. Lutz, CMSgt., USAF, (Ret), interview with
1st Lt. James McAndrew, May 31,1995.
223. Fulgham.
224. Kittinger.
225 . ibid.
226. ibid.
227. ibid., and Itr., Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Director, Dearborn Observatory,
Northwestern University, to Maj . Hector Quintanilla, Chief Aerial
Phenomena Branch, December 6, 1965, National Air Intelligence
Center historical files, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

153
 Notes - Section Two

228. Kevin D. Randle and Donald R. Schmitt, The Truth About the UFO
Crash at Roswell (New York: Avon Books, 1994),22.
229. Standard Form 539, "Abbreviated Clinical Record," May 21, 1959,
Personnel Record of Col. Dan D. Fulgham, National Archives and Records
Administration, National Personnel Records Center, St Louis, Mo.
230. Fulgham.
231. Kittinger.
232. ibid.
233 . Kaufman.
234. DD Form 640, "Nursing Notes," May 24, 1959, and DD Form 728,
"Doctor's Orders," May 22,1959, Personnel Record of Col. Dan D.
Fulgham, National Archives and Records Administration, National
Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Mo.
235. Kittinger, Kaufman, and DD Form 728 "Doctor's Orders," May 22,
1959, Personnel Record of Col. Dan D. Fulgham, National Archives
and Records Administration, National Personnel Records Center,
St. Louis, Mo.
236. ibid.
237. Kittinger.
238. ibid.
239. Fulgham.

154
Appendix A

155
 Anthropormorphic Dummy Launch
and Landing Locations

NEW MEXICO

"Crash Site" 2
(Approx. 175 ml.
NW of Roswell) SW~I ~
@l
alker AFB []
rmerly Roswell AAF)

Anthro pomorphic Dummy Launch Locations

D Anth ropom orph ic Dummy Landing Locations
Locations approximate ; numbers within sy mbols
correspond to listing of locations found in Appendix A

Source : Test records of U.S. Air Force aeromed ical project no. 7218,
task 71 7 19 (HIGH DIVE) and project no. 7222, task 7 1748 (EXCELSIOR) .

156
 High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops

Number Date Launch Site Landing Site

6/23/54 Ho lloman AFB, N.M . Holloman AFB, N.M .

2 6/28/54 Holloman AFB, N.M. Dunkin, N.M.

3 6/30/54 Holloman AFB, N.M . 10 mi les Sout hwest of

Hol loman AFB , N.M .

4 12/1/54 Holloman AFB, N.M . Holloman AFB , N.M.

5 12/2/54 Holloman AFB, N.M. 12 mi les South of Artesia, N.M .

6 12/6/54 Holloman AFB , N.M. Near Twin Buttes, N.M .

7 12/9/54 Holloman AFB, N.M. 3 miles West of Twin

Buttes, N.M.

8 2/23/55 Ho lloman AFB, N.M . 28 miles East of Roswell , N.M .

9 3/1/55 Holloman AFB , N.M. 25 miles South of Caprock, N.M.

10 3/3/55 Holloman AFB N. M . 25 miles EasUNortheast of

Roswell , N.M.

II 6/15/55 Hollom an AFB, N.M . 5 miles Northwest of

Du nkin, N.M.

12 6/23/55 Holloman AFB, N.M. 35 miles Southwest of

Holloman AFB , N.M .

.I3 (,f?Cj/~~ H"II"m'ln A PR . N ?j miles West nfThree

Rivers , N .M.

14 7/7/55 H olloman AFB , N.M. 13 mjles West of Tularosa

Peak, N.M .

15 7/15/55 Holloman AFB , N.M . 15 miles Northeast of

Hatch, N.M .

16 11117/55 Holloman AFB, N.M. 8 miles Northwest of

Roswell , N.M .

17 11/21155 Holloman AFB, N.M . Holloman AFB, N.M .

18 1/25/56 Holloman AFB, N.M. Holloman AFB, N.M.

19 2/8/56 Holloman AFB , N.M. 20 miles South of

Roswel l, N.M .

20 2/21/56 Holloman AFB, N .M. 20 miles East of Du nkin. N.M.

21 2/21/56 Holloman AFB . N.M . Holloman AFB, N.M.

22 5/18/56 Holloman AFB. N. M. D ata Not Available

23 5/22/56 Holloman AFB , N.M. Data Not Available

157
Number Date Launch Site Landing Site

24 8/21/56 Holloman AFB, N.M. Holloman AFB, N.M.

25 5116/57 Truth or Consequences, N.M . White Sands Proving

Ground, N. M.

26 5129/57 Hatch, N.M. 25 miles Northwest of

Las Cruces, N.M.

27 6/4/57 Holloman AFB, N.M. 11 miles North of

Las Cruces, N.M.

28 6/6/57 Holloman AFB, N.M. 17 miles South of

Holiloman AFB , N .M.

29 6/7/57 Holloman AFB , N.M. Holloman AFB, N.M.

30 6111157 Hatch, N.M. West of San Agustin Pa ~ s , N.M.

31 6113/57 Holloman AFB, N.M. Holloman AFB, N.M.

32 9/27/57 White Sands Natl

MonumentPicnic Area Orogrande, N.M.

33 10/8/57 White Sands Proving Ground 10 miles East of Picacho, N.M .

34 1129/58 Data Not Available 20 miles South of

Alamogordo, N.M.

35 119/59 Holloman AFB , N.M. White Sands Proving

Ground. N.M.

36 1114/59 Las Palomas, N.M. 30 miles EastlSoubheast of

Roswell, N.M.

37 1130/59 Nutt, N.M . White Sands Proving

Ground, N.M.

38 2/4/59 Holloman AFB, N. M. I mile North of Bent, N.M.

39 2/6/59 Lake Valley, N.M. Data Not Available

40 2110/59 Caballo Dam, N. M. White Sands Proving

Ground, N.M.

41 211 1/59 Hatch, N.M . Data Not Available

42 2/14/59 Data Not Available 30 miles West of

Holloman AFB, N.M.

43 2/16/59 Ft. Craig, N.M. Mescalero Apache Reservation

(N. M.)

158
Appendix B

159
 ST ATE:rvtENT OF WITNESS

Date: 26 April 1996 Place: Farmington, NM

I Charles E. Clouthier, hereby state that James McAndrew, was identified as a Captain,
USAFR on this date at my place of employment do hereby, voluntarily and of my own free
wiu, make the following statement. This was done without having been subjected to any
coercion, unlawful influence or unlawful inducement

I was on active duty in the US Air Force and stationed at Walker AFB, Roswell, NM,
from February 1955 until October 1956. During that time I was a phannacist assigned to
the base hospital. Following my tour of duty with the Air Force, I returned to my
hometown, Farmington, NM, where I became an employee and eventually a co-owner of
Farmington Drug.

With the exception of the two years in the US Air Force, 1 have been a resident of
Farmington, NM since 1934. It is my recollection that Dr Frank B. Nordstrom was the
first pediatrician to practice in the Fannington area and he remained the only pediatrician
in Farmington until approximately 1970, I base these recollections on extensive
professional and personal contacts with physicians in the Farmington area and as a father
of two children who were patients of Dr Nordstrom 's.

Also based on nearly 40 years of contact with physicians in the Fannington area, I believe
that Dr Nordstrom is the only physician who served a tour of duty at Walker AFB , During
the 1960s, I became aware that Dr Nordstrom had also served at the Walker AFB
hospital. At various times in the ensuing years, Dr Nordstrom and I reminisced about our
service at Walker AFB. During these conversations Dr Nordstrom never mentioned any
activities during his tour of duty I considered unusual or that might explain reports of
bodies or aliens. During the time 1 was stationed at Walker AFB, I did not witness, nor
did I hear rumors, of anything that involved flying saucers, aliens, or anything else of an
extraterrestrial nature.

I am not part of a conspiracy to withhold information from either the US government or

the American public. There is no classified information that I am withholding related to
this inquiry, and I have not been threatened by US government persons concerning not
talking about this matter.

160
SIGNED: Subscribed and sworn before a
person authorized to administer oaths
this 26th day of Apri] 1996 at

Farmington, NM f /1 ;?;
//
/<I
// /~
I , / , /:/
Vl--t.; .~-),I C/ t , -~
Charles E. Clouthier limes McAndrew, Capt, USAFR
i
',-,'

WITNESS

161
 ST ATEMENT OF WITNESS

Plac' Date: 25 May 95

1, Charles A. CoItman, Jr , Col, USAF, MC (Ret), hereby state that James McAndrew was
identified as a Lieutenant USAFR, on this date at my place of employment and do hereby,
voluntarily and of my own free will, make the following statement. This was done without
having been subj ected to any coercion, unlawful influence or unlawful inducement.

I entered the U.S. Air Force in 1957 as a flight surgeon and was assigned to Walker AFB,
NM, in 1958 . Following a residency at Ohio State University from 1959 to 1963, I was
assigned to Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, Lackland AFB, TX, where I eventually
became the Chairman of the Department of Medicine . I retired fro m the Air Force in
1977. I am presently a Professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San
Antonio, and Chief Executive Officer of the Cancer Therapy and Research Foundation of
South Texas.

I remember a balloon crash that happened north of Roswell, NM, in May, 1959. I
received a phone call from the NeOIC of the Flight Surgeon' s office, who informed me of
the crash. The NCOIC, Earl Wormwood, came to my quarters and we drove, in an old
blue Air Force "crackerbox" ambulance, to the crash site. I remember the gondola laying
on its side and the deflated balloon on the ground. The crew members were sitting next to
the gondola, I examined the pilots and determined they were not seriously injured. They
told me they were practicing touch-and-go' s and a gust of wind had dumped them on the
ground, and the gondola had struck one of the pilots in the head. Also present were Air
Force technicians in trucks who tracked the baUoon. The injured pilots were transported
to the Flight Surgeon's office at the hospital at Walker AFB

The injury sustained by the crew member was a head abrasion/contusion and a hemotoma,
The hemotoma caused the patient's head to swell; however, it was not serious enough for
him to be admitted . I remember receiving a call from Col (Dr.) John Stapp. He was in
charge of the balloon project and was quite famous. Dr Stapp inquired about the injuries
to the pilots and he wanted them returned to Holloman AFB as quickly as possible.

The hospital was an old World War II cantonment-type building with long corridors and a
capacity of fifty beds . I do not recall a nurse assisting me in the treatment of the patient,
although a nurse may have been on duty and observed the patient. I was the only doctor
in the hospital that morning. There were no visiting doctors from other bases or facilities .
I do not remember any altercations or arguments that day. During my time at Walker, I
do not recall that any autopsies were performed at the hospital , since we did not have a
pathologist on staff I do not recall any remains brought to the hospital in body bags, or
wreckage transported in the back of an ambulance. There may have been remains brought
to the hospital in body bags after a KC-97 crash, but that was before I arrived at Walker.
Dr Ed Bradley was involved in the recovery of the remains

162
At no time was there ever any involvement of the Walker hospital with UFO's or "space
aliens" I know this to be true because the hospital was very small and had a small staff.
If any activity, other than normal hospital functions, had occurred, I would have known
about it

I am not part of any conspiracy to withhold or provide misleading information to the

United States Government or the American public. There is no classified information that
I am withholding related to this inquiry and I have never been threatened by u. S.
Government persons concerning refraining from talking about this matter.

SIGNED: Sworn to and subscribed before me,

------)
~~thS. this 25th day OfMi'
an individual authorized to administer

~/~"a",~~ /
/
Charles A. Coltman, Jr. , M.D. J es McAndrew, 1st Lt, USAFR

163
 STATEMENT OF WIT:\ESS

Place Date: 25 May 95

I, Dan D. Fu lgham, Col, USAF (Ret), he reby state that James McAndrew was identified
as a Lieutenant, USAFR on this date at my place of employment and do hereby ,
voluntarily and of my own free will, make the foll owing statement. This was done
without having been subjected to any coercion, unlawful influence or unlawful
induce ment.

I ntered the U.S. Air Force in 1952 as an av iation cadet. I flew F-84s on 100 combat
missions during the Korean war. After a tour as a tl ight instructor I was assigned to the
Aero Medical Laboratory at Wright Patlerso n. I participated in both the Air Force Man in
Space program and Project Mercury. I a lso participated in the X- IS and X-20 progra ms
and worked as a bioastro nautics offic r wi th NASA n Gemin i. During my Air Force
career, I earned both a Master's and Doctorate degree from Pu rdue Un iversity. r Ilew a
co mbat tour in Southeast Asia in FAs as a member of the 555 th Tact ical Fighter
Sq uadron and flew 133 combat missions. I retired from the Air Force in 19 78 as the
Commander of the Human Resources Laboratory at Brook AFB, TX. I am presently the
Director Of Biosc iences for a research organization in San Antonio, TX .

In 1959 I volu nteered for train ing to become a back up pi lot for Capt Joe Kitt ngcr in his
high altitude ba lloon projects. 1 tlew two missions for traini ng purposes with Capt
Ki tte nger and Capt Bi ll Kau fman fro m Hol loman AFB, M in May, 1959. On the
second tl ig ht we were practicing touch and go landings north of Roswell , NM when we
"crashed" on one of the landings. The gondola tlipped over and my head was pi nned to
th ground by the lip of the gondola. We managed to li ft the gondola off of my head and
looked it over for damage. Capt Kittc nger was bleeding fro m a cu t on his face and I
noticed that my head seemed to be protru ding outw ard from underneath my helme t.
Rea lizi ng I was injured, I sat dow n an d fe,U'eJ 1 might go into shock . I was not in pain
but my entire head was thro bbi ng and began to swel l.

r then remember boarding the "chase" hel icopter that was followi ng us an d flying a short
distance to Walker AFB for medical lreat ment. I recall walki ng in to the hospital and also
stopping on the front step to smoke a cigarette. I remember security personnel esco rtill g
and queslioning us to determ ine who we were. Sec uri ty was very tight at Srrategi c Air
Com mand bases such as Wal ke r. On occasi on su rprise inspection teams from SAC
headq uarters arrived in he licopters just as we did . In addir ion, a story of three Air Force
office rs crashing in a balloon was somew hat far fetched. The security people were
conv inced of our identities when they spoke wi th Col John P. Stapp, the Aero Medical
Laboratory Commander.

Whil I was at Walker my head had swelled considerably and both eyes were turni ng
black. Late r tht: skin on my face turned yello w. I remember being seen by one docto r
and I do not believe any other doctors partici pated in my treatment. I do not recall an y

164
nurses atte nd ing to me. I also do not recall that a black NCO was presc nt nor do I rec all
any civdi an men in the hospital. I do not recall that Cap t Ki ttcnger was involved in an
altercation of any kind while we were there. After I was lreated and released we all fl ew
back to Holloman on the helicopter.

At Hollo man I was admitted to the hos pital and had blood aspirated from under my scalp .
I remember my forehead drooping down , I had to use my fingers to open my eyel ids, and
I had to sleep sitting up. Several days later I reru m d to Wright Patterson with Capt
Kittenger and Capt Kaufman. My wi fe met the airplane and when she saw me, she burst
into tears due to the swelling of my head, the two black eyes, and the yellow color of my
skin. When I returned to my offi ce at Wright Patterson, my secretary also began to cry
when she saw me . After some weeks my head returned to normal size and I was returned
to flyi ng status.

During my Ai r Force career I was involved in many different sc ienti fic researc h projects
incl uding the . pace program. I can state with certainty that none of them, including lhe
incident descri bed here, had any th ing to do with UFOs or "space aliens".

I am not part of any conspiracy LO withhol d or provide misleadin g info rmation to the
United States Govern ment or the American public. There is no cl assified info rmation
that I am withholding related to this inquiry and 1 have never been threatened by U.S.
Govern me nt perso ns conce rn ing re fraining from talk ing about this matter.

SIGNED : Subscribed and sworn be fore me, an

indi vid ual authorized to admin ister
oat h~ this 25th day of May 19 5

at IJ
I ;1'~
Dan D. Fulgham, Co l, USAF (Ret) Jam s McAndrew, 1st Lt, USAFR

WITNES Ses):

l 65
 ST.'\TEM E, 'T OF WfTNE S.

Place : Date : 28 Mav 95

I, Bernard 0. GiJdenberg. GS-14, (Ret), hereb)! stale that .lames ~v1cAndrew \''-3S identilied
as a Lieutenant USAFR on this date at my home and do hereby. voluntarily and of my
own 11<:<: will, mak~ the foUowing slale:rnenl. This was dom: withuut ha\ing bt:en sUbjccte:d
10 any coercion. unlawful influence or unlaVYful inducement.

I became involved in high altitude baUoon development while an undergraduate student at

?'-Jew York University (NYV ). Following graduation I was hired by the Air Force at
HoUoman AFB and worked continuously as both a meteorologist and aerospace engim:er
at the Balloon Branch from 1951 until my retirement in 1981. !\1~' job responsibilities \vere
to forecast the weather and fly by remote control, high altitude balloons for many different
scientitIc projects. During this time, I became internationally recognized as an authority on
high altirude balloon trajectory forecasting. I have published numerous technical rep0l1s
and artidcs.

The tirst pr~jec.t in which I was invoh ed, while still an undergraduate student at 1'.'1 T. was
the acoustical detection of nuclear explosions. The name of the project MoguL was
classilied and I didn'1 know this name until several years ago. Based on my c. pclience \\ith
this projl.:ct I am certain projl.:ct Mogul was responsible for soml.: p0l1ions of what has
become to be known as the "Roswell Incident" .

Following project Mogul I was involved in perfecting high altitude balloon technology and
made many test tlights with large polyethylene balloons trom Holloman AFB. I worked
extensively on atmospheric sampling pr~jects and biological nights in which the balloons
lifted small animals to altitude for cosmic ray experiments. I al~o worked on the !doby Djd,
Project that collected meteorological data and the classitied Gopher (119L ) reconnaissance
project.

J \-vas relied upon to forecast the weather. wnduct climatological studies. predict balloon
trajectories, and to hit with precision ground targets both on and ofl the \\ rute Sands
Missile Range. Balloon trajectories in 1 'ew ~dexic o bela"", the tropopause. arc
predominantly towards the east-northeast. \vhen launched fiom Holloman AFD with the
exception of July and August when baUoons remained over the Holloman area. At hjgh
altitude. above the tropopaus~, trajectories are generally westerly during the ~umm~r and
easterly during the spring, faU, and winter. As a result these winds. the Hunoman haUoon
branch ft!coven:d many, probabJy hundreds. of balloons and scientific payloads from the
Roswell. ~,[ area over the years.

During the time of the year when trajectories were to the cast I attempted to drop the
equipment near accessible non mountainous areas and paved roads. The main target area
was the first large north-south road on the other side: of the Sacramento \Iountains from
HoUoman AFB. Highway 285. This road goes north and south thro ugh Ros\veU , The

166
standard procedure was to preposition mihtar:y recovery cnw.. s near the proj ected point of
payload impact. The ere\-vs consisted plimmiJy of Air Force members in UnitOIID and they
operated military vehicles. I often directed these crews to "standby" along the shoulder of
Highway 285, both n0!1h and south of RosweU until the baUoon "vas in position. The
rccovel)' crews received detailed instmctions from tracking aircraft that led them [0 the
exact location of the payload. T he recovery vehicles included, depending on the mission, a
crane. weapons carriers, communications van, and occasionally tanker ttucks to refuel the
aircraft that \-vould sometimes land on nearby roads.

During the time of the year when balloon traj ectories were to the west, I attempted 10 drop
the payloads in the Rio Grande Valley. I also aimed tor another vaUey, the tlat area north
of Truth or Consequences that includes the Plains of San Augustin. In addition. many
remote balloon launch sites were located throughout the Rio Grande Valley west of the
\\ rure Sands P ro\ling Grounds. Launch ere\vs were also mostly military and used much of
the same equipment as tht: recovery cre"",s.

I had extensive involvement with Projec t 72 18 that later became Project 7222. This
project studit:d the free-fall l:haracteristics of anthropomorphic dummies dropped hom
balloons from aJtitudes up to 100,000 feet. The missions usually consisted of two
dummjes attal:hed (0 a suspension rack that I directed to be released at altitude. Depending
on the wind conditions and time of year. the dummies. on many ol:l:Jsions, landed in the
Ros\'vcU an:a. I recaU some difficulties in the release mechanisms of the dummies that
resulted in some of them free-fallin g to the ground whik they were still attached 10 tht'
rack. Someone without a good vantage point or not associated with the project might
mistake these dummies lor "aliens" due to their odd fl esh tones and abstral:t human
features.

I also recall an accident invol\.ing a manned balloon tlight. I remember this event clearly
he cause I am also a baUoon pilot and had an accident approximately 1\\':0 years before . The
accident occurred on a fljght that Capt Joe Kittenger wa!'. "checking ouf" two back up pilots
for his high ahirude missions. The baUoon was launched around midnight from behind the
Banoon Branch al Holloman :\FB. I remember tha t some of the steel balJast used by the
banoon caused a tireworks' display when it contacted some nearby power lines dUling the
launch. I was operating the control center for this t1ight and I received notification from
the communications vehicle that was following the balloon that there had been an accident
north of Roswell llatcr leilmed that the gondola had roned over during a practice touch
and go landing and one of the pilots had been struck in the head and injured. I recall
speaking to Capt Kittinger about the accident and I saw the injured pilot. Although his
injury was not serious, his head had considerable swelling and he looked very odd.

I also worked with Capt Kininger on Project Stargazer, I also had met several times the
civilian scientific advisor Dr. .I. Allen Hynek. Dr Hynek was thoroughJy familiar with the
balloon operations at Holloman and "isited the BaUoon Branch numerous times. This
project experienced some difficulties and only one manned flight \-'Vas conducted,

167
 Another project I was involved \virh \'Ias the Air Force investigations ofl 'FOs. Project
Bluebook. Since I was a meteorologist and amateur astronomer I evaluated, starting in
195 1. local sightings of LT"fOs. New Mexico had alot of sightings because of the good
'\,i sibility and the many e~peri.mental projects of the \\ llite Sands Proving Grounds. During
my time on Project Bluebook there ""asn't any sightings that we wuld not explain .
~e\'el1heJess popular literature still retcf!S to some of these sightings as unexplained.

Another project with \vhich I was involved, was the NASA Voyager and \ 'iking Projects.
These space vehicles were tested by launching them from our balloons at extremely high
altitude to simulate the atmosphere of Venus and t\ rars. To utilize the instlUmcntation on
the \\illite Sands fv!issile Range I elected to launch the baUoons and attached space vehicles
from the Roswell IndlLc;trial Air Center, formerly the Roswell Army Airfield. The
Holloman Balloon Branch made approximately eight launches of these two vehides from
Roswell. In appearance the Viking and \' oyager probes could b~ mistaken tor a nying,
saucer. They were both undassified highly publicized projeds and I do not recall getting
any tTFO rcpOJ1s for these flights. I believe one of these probes is on display at White
Sand."i ~Iissile Range and its known as the "{lying saucer".

I am not part of any conspiracy to withhold or provide misleading infollnation to the

Cnited Stats Govcmment or the American publi\,;. There is no classi1ied inlormation that
I am withholding related to this inquiry Jnd I have never been tlu'eatened by FS .
Government persons concerning refraining !fom talking ahout this matter.

SIGNED: Subscrihed and sworn before mc. an

individual authOJ;zed to administer
oaths this 28th dav. ofI :\ Iav.,'A 995
at , I
I
,
/

I' I /. /.
...-k~:>=:(' /" ;/J ; (.' /~~:.. ~
I\
, ,~
.-&=..... .
! 1./ " /L--- '
/1 ,
- . - -_.,---
1./ 1.

~-
'

Bernard D. Gildenberg. ~~:~~ (R:t) ) Ja~es t\1cAndrc,,'i, 1st Lt. eS ,\FR

WITNESS(s):

168
 STATE :'v1 ENT OF W ITN ESS

Place: Date : 28 !\Jay 95

I. Ole .Torgeson. _ rSgt. LS.-\F, (Ret), hereby state that James !vlcAndrc\v was identified as
a Lieutenant, CSAfR on this dale at my home and do hereby. voluntarily and of my own
iree will. ma~e the 1ollowing statement. This was done \vithout ha\ing been subjected to
any coercion. unlawful influence or unJa",ful inducement.

I enlisted in the CS. Air Force in 1957 and became a Ground Communications and
Electronic Repainnan. I remained in this career field throughout my career. r completed
tJu-ee lours at the BaUoon Branch at Holloman AFB. NM. I n;[irt;d from the Air Force in
1977 as the \lCOIC 01 the Communicalion and Instrumentation Section ofthe Balloon
Branch at Holloman .\FB .

I recal! an overnight balloon training mission that was conducted in ~1ay. 1959. Capl Joe
hirringer \vas training back up pilots for one of his upcoming proj ects. I was an ainnan
:lssigned to coordinate communications and to assist in the r~covery of the balloon upon
compklion of the mission. I followed the balloon in an old ~orean War vintage
"crackcrbox" ambulance that had been converted into a communications van . Another
airman and I tollmvcd the balloon throughout the night on an easterly trajectory over Ihe
Sacramento Mountains to an area north (If Roswell. Also lollmvrng the balloon \vere
recovery technici.ans in a weapons c,m1er. We stayed in contact \vith the ball oon ere"" by
radio and also obscl"Ved flares the crew would light at various intervals so wc co uld visually
tr'lcK lnt.: m. JUST aiter sunrise 1 recall the balloon landing nOI1h of Roswcll and Capt
Kitlinger offered me some coffee .1nd told me he was going fo rlU1ke one more touch and
go landing 10 compleTe the mission. I rtmlcmber that I took some photographs of the
halloon and waited for the last landing. Several minutes later I remember hearing a "bang".
Ihis ~vas the squib that tired to release the gondola from the balloon. We immedi.1leJ:v \vcnl
10 \\ihere the gondola landed and saw the gondola laying on its side and saw 1\\ 0 of the
pilots standing and one lying down. Lying on the ground was a shattered helmet that was
worn by om: of the pilots. Capl Kininger told mt: Iht:y wert: attempting to land 10 avoid
some po\-ver Ijn~s and a row of trees.

Soon after I arrived at the crash site, a helicopter that was also foUmving the 11ight landed
and lransp0l1ed the three air"rew membi:rs to \V aIker .-\FB for medi"al altemion , I r~call I
assisted the recovery technicians load the balloon and the gondola on the \veapons canier
and then drove 15 to 20 minutes to the hospital at \Valker AFB . \\ 'hen r anived al Walker.
\ve parked the converted ambulance near the hospital and either the other aDman \vilh me
or (he recovery lechtticians called the balloon control (.;enter to notil~' them 01 the accident.
I recall waiting near the hospital tor a short period of time and then returning to HolJoman
AFB. During the time I \vas \-"aiting at the hospital I did not obsen:e ;lny arguments or
altercations . J did not observe Capt Nttmgcr speaking disrespectfully to anyone . I also do
not recaU any male civilians or any vehicles that belonged to a mortuJry.

169
I panicipated in many, probably more Ihan 100, halloon recovclies . I otien recoven:d
payloads and balloons from the area surrounding Roswell 1'-1\ 1. It was routine to he
directed by the balloon control center to an area m:ar Roswell to wail to r~cover a balloon .
vVe would \-vait along the side of the road, at small airports. or at the 31mory in Roswell. It
would not be uncommon for our recovery verudes 10 be seen waiting to recover balloons
throughout New !\'1cxico. Arizona.. and West Texas. \Vhen we recovered the balloons and
payloads sometimes civilians would be in the area and make inquires. \\'c would leU them
' . . . hal \\ c \vere doing and provide them with a telephone number at Holloman AFB if tht:y
\vanrcd to n:port .my damages. We \",en: required 10 clean up the area and remove all
debris before \\ie kft. In addition to the recoveries, 1 recall making balloon launches from
sites up dnd down the Rio Grande Valley. I remember that some of these launches wen;;
mnde from an area wesl of Soccoro. l'.T?vl.

Another project I participated in was the testing of the \,iking space probe in 1972. These
four launches were all made from the Roswel1 Industrial Air Center, the fonner Roswdl
Almy .'\.Uii~ld . Approximately twenty Air Force personnel \vere on temporary dUly to
Roswell throughout the summer of 1972 to support this project. NASA personnel
prepared the spacecraft for launch from the old hangers of (he fOlmer Air Forct: basc o This
project \vas not classified and was covered by the news media.

I am not pal1 of any conspiracy to withhold or provide misleading information to the

Cnited States Government or the American public . There is no classified information that
I am \vithholding rdated to this inquiry and I ha\'e never been threatened by t" .S.
G overnment persons wnceming refraining from talking about this matter.

SIGN'ED : Subscribed and sworn be10re ml:. an

indh,idual authorized 10 administer
o ath.s~ lhis 28th day of \1' y 1995
at

- /~.& _..----
Jam~ ?vlcAndre~. Jst Lt. CS .-\fR
\HT?\'ESS( s):

170
 STATEMENT OF WIT. ESS

Place : Date: 28 October 1996

I, William C. Kaufman, Lt. Col., USAF (Ret) , hereby voluntarily and of

my own free will, make the following statement. This was done
without coercion, unlawful influence or unlawful inducement.

I was drafted into the Army of the United States in 1943, transferred
to the Army Air Forces, and was commissioned as a pilot in 1944.
From 1950 until 196 7, with a break for training for a combat tour in
Korea and for educational assignments to AFIT, I was assigned to the
Aero Medical Laboratory at Wright Patterson AFB, OB. During that
time I was a physiological training officer and worked in the
development of early pressure suits. I tested many high altitude
pilots and also the first group of astronauts. Later during my Air
Force career, in 1961, I earned a Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics.
I was aSSigned to the Aero Medical Laboratory for three tours and
retired in 1 968 as the Chief of the Biodynamics Branch of the Aero
Medical Field Laboratory at Holloman AFB, NM.

During my third assignment at Wright Patterson, I volunteered, along

with Capt Dan Fulgham, to be a backup pilot for Capt Joe Kittinger for
his high altitude balloon project, Project Excelsior. Capt Kittinger
instructed Capt Fulgham and me in ballooning in May 1959.
At the end of an overnight training flight, on the morning of May 21.
1959, northwest of Roswell, NM, we (Kittinger, Fulgham and 1) had
an accident with the balloon. We were practicing touch and go
landings when a severe gust of wind overturned the gondola,
dumping all of us to the ground with the gondola on top of us. The
accident occurred in a small pasture where a pony was grazing next
to a small cottage. For safety, we were followed during hours of
darkness by a C-131 aircraft and during the day by a H-21
helicopter. We were followed the entire time by technicians in a
truck for communications and for the recovery of the balloon and
gondola. Seeing the accident, the crews of the helicopter and the
re 'overy trucks came to our assistance, much to the dismay of the
farmer who owned the pony, which had run away when the truck
broke down the fence to reach the crash site. I recall that a member
of the helicopter crew attempted to calm the farmer.

l71
Capt Fulgham sustained an injury to the forehead when the lip of the
gondola struck him. Capt Fulgham thought he had fractured his skull
but the experimental helmet he was wearing apparently protected
him. Capt Kittinger was bleeding from a cut on the face. I was
beneath Fulgham and Kittinger and unhurt. Fulgham was loaded
into the h licopter and we were taken to the nearest hospital, at
Walker AFB, in Roswell. I recall the helicopter pilot called the air
traffic control tower at Walker and informed them we were inbound
with an injured pilot from a balloon accident. This was quite unusual
and I believe the tower personnel might have thought we were a
surprise Strategic Air Command inspection team that at the direction
of the SAC Commander, Gen. Curtis E. LeMay, sometimes made
unannounced visits by helicopter. We landed in front of the tower
and were met by an ambulance along with a detail of military police
with machine guns. The military police escorted us to the hospital for
treatment and to verify our story of the balloon crash.

While Capt Fulgham and Capt Kittinger were being treated I was
asked to explain to the Walker AFB Base Commander what had
happened. After Capt Kittinger was treated he called Col Stapp from
a phone adjacent to the waiting room were numerous military wives
were waiting for pre-natal care. Capt Kittinger, as the project officer,
was concerned what effect this accident might have on the future of
his program. As we waited for Fulgham, Kittinger paced up and
down the hall concerned about Fulgham and getting out of the
hu:-;pilaL before Walker APB offic lal:s mIght cumpltcau~ maLLer:s. I do
not recall any male civilians in the hospital, nor do I recall Capt
Kittinger being involved in an altercation of any kind. Capt Kittinger
did not shout or use obscene language, he was simply interested in
getting medical attention for Fulgham and leaving as soon as
possible. I do recall that one or two nurses were present. I do not
recall a black NCO accompanying Kittinger while we were in the
hospital.

When the medical personnel were finished treating Fulgham, all

three of us returned to Holloman AFB by helicopter about noon the
same day. The folJowing day I took my FAA exam and was awarded
a balloon pilot license. Three days later, on Sunday, Kittinger,
Fulgham and I returned to Wright Patterson via a special C-131
flight. Fulgham looked very odd with two black eyes and protruding
forehead; his head was so swollen he could not wear his uniform hat
for some time. I later worked with Capt Kittinger on the Stargazer
project and and occasionally flew aircraft with him.

172
During my entire time at the Aero Medical Laboratory I neither saw
nor heard anything tha t would lead me to believe that the Air Force
was keeping "aliens" at Wright Patterson. I knew there was a project
on UFOs called Bluebook, at the base, but to my knowledge the Aero
Medical Laboratory was not involved. Many scientific
accomplishments came out of the various laboratories at Wright
Patterson but I am unaware of any that might have involved aliens
or UFOs.

I am not part of any conspiracy to withhold or provide misleading

information to the United States Government or the American public.
There is no classified information that I am withholding related to
this inquiry and I have never been threatened by U.S. Government
persons concerning refraining from talking about this matter.

This is as I recollect those even ts.

SIGNEP:

.Jt .L4L-,--_
William C. Kaufman , Lreot, Dr Af (Ret)
\

~T~Ci. ~~~O--~

173
 ST.-\TF\ lE?\T OF \\Tr~ESS

Plal,;~ : Date: 24 .Tum: 95

1. Jos~ph W. Kiningcr. JI'.- Cot, C SAF (Ret). hereby state that James i\[c .. \ndre\v \vas
identifIed as a Lieutenant. LSAFR on this datt; al my home and do hereby. voluntarily and
of my mvn Ih:e will. make the toltowing statement. This was done \vithoul ha\.ing been
subjected to any coercion, unlawful intluence or unJ.miul inducement.

J entered the L'. S. Air Force in 19~9 as an A,,,iation Cadet. From 1950 to 1953 11lcw
tightl.:rs in Europe before heing assigned to the Fighter T\.:st Section al Holloman .\FR
\').{ in July. 1953. During my tour as a test pilot ll,;onducted the tirst zero gra\;ty tests
and was the baUoon pilot of the first Project \-Ian High high altitude research mission. In
1958 1 was assigned to the Escape SL~ction of the :\ero Medical J .ahoratory al \\'right
Patter on .-\FB. OH. DUling this tour I was the Projel,;t Oflll,;cr of Project E.'i.I,;t:isjor and
made three high altitude parachute jumps. the highest from 102, ~oo feet. \vhich today
remains a world rewrd. For these jumps I \vas a\\ardcd the Halman Trophy for 1960 hy
President EisenhO\ver. Fo\lmving Excelsior. 1 was the Project Unlcer of Stargazer. a
project that made astronomical ohservations ti'om a high altitude baUoon. I t1<.:\V two
combat tours in Southeast Asia with the Air Commandos. linter Hew a tour in F-.ts and
was the Squadron Commander or the 555 Tactical Fighter Squadron. I accumulated over
LOOO combat Hying hours and I am I,;rediled with one aerial victory. I spent ten months as
a PO"'V in Hanoi. l -pon my return 1 attended Air \\'ar <. oUeg . flew F-4s and retired from
the .:.\ir Force in 1978. In 198-l I became the tirst person to make a solo crossing of the
. \tlant11.: by balloon.

In 1958 J was made the Project Otlicer of E. 'cdsior hy Col John Paul Stapp_ the ,-\<;!fO
:\ kdical I.aboratory Commander. I supervised and was adively involved in the dropping
and recovery of anthropomorphic dummies from high altitude balloons at Holloman AfB.
\."\ I for this projel,;t. We also dropped dummies. from ain:raH only. at Wlight-Palterson
.-\FR. OH. The object of the Holloman tests were 10 sludy the tree raU characteristics of
dummies dropped from balloons at altitudes of 50.000 to 100.000 teet. Based on this data
we designed a parachute that stabilized the dummies and I later used this parachute on my
three high altitude jumps.
The baUoons carrying the dummies \overc launched from 'various locations in , -~\v :\ lexico
and often impacted off of the \\ rute Sands Proving Ground depending on the \vind
conditions. The dummies were outlined with clothing and equipment ot an ;\.i.l' Force
pilot. The facial t~3tures of the dummies were not as pronounced as a human. The cars
and no!o;es did not protrude. I do not recall any dummies with ears or noses . Some of the.
dummies \vere nol complete: they sometimes did not have anns or legs. To someone nol
associated with the projed or who vie\ved the dummies h'om a distance. they could appear
to be human or with some imagination a space --alien." In tact, I rel,;alJ one incidenr al
Wright- Patterson where one of our dummil.!s landed near the bad.~ ard of Gen_ Rawlings.
Commander of the .-\iT Research and Development Command. Gen. Ra\vling's wife \"3S
entertaining otllcer's wives that afternoon when one of our dummy's parachute t:1iled to

174
was injured and Kaufman and I raised the gondola. Fulgham had been struck in the he,ld
by the edge of the gondola and I could see the blood rapidly al;cumulating under his sl;alp
in the forehead area. We treated him tor shock and soon the recovery vehicles .md the
chase helicopter arrived. I decided to transport Fulgham by hclil;opter to the hospital at
nearby Walker AFB .

\\'hen we anived at Walker I remember that security "\las tight. as it was at aLI Strategic .-\ir
Command bases. and we \vere closely scrutinized by secUlily personnel due to the unusual
circumr.;tances <lnd early hour of our anival. I had two concerns once we arriwd at the
hospital. fu'sl to gel treatment for Fulgham and second to kave as soon as possible . .-\fto1" I
was assured that Fulgham ' s injUlies wen.: not serious I wanted to quiclJy leave the base
before the Walker AFB Flying Safety O fficer anived to till out an al;l;ident report. 1 didn ' t
want a n:port med becaust: an accident investigation would bring unwanted scrutiny to the
project. Even though the project was une lassified I did not "vant any pUblicity or
premature rekases of information.

,-\.lthough Fulgham's injuries wcn~ not serious, his head had swollen \,;onsiderably-- _. both
eyes \"ere black and his face had swollen so much you could barely see his nose. I believe
that if someone sa\-v him while we wCi'e at Walker they \-vould have been st''lrlled. \\ ncn his
treatment was completed we aU three returned to Holloman on the heli(;.opter. ..\t
Holloman. Fulgham \-vas admined to the hospital and I made preparations for him to return
to his duty station at Wlight-Patterson AFB. Due to his grotesque appearance. I did not
\\ant Fulgham to lly on a commercial airline . I made arrangements for all of us to tly to
Wlight-Patterson on a C-131 a few days later. \'nen we amved at Wright-Patterson. I
assisted Fulgham down the steps of the airl;raft because his e;:yes were s",oUen shut and he
could not see. His wife was \vaiting at the bottom of the steps of the aircraft and she asked
me where her husband \.... a5. I replied "this is your husband" and she scrc.lmcd and began
to cry .

\\ nile I \va~ at the \\"alker AFD hospital I do not re<;all any conta<;t \vith a male civilian . I
certainly did not call anvone an "SOB" or speak to anyone in a disn::spcctful manner. I did
not make any threats or instruct anyone else 10 make threats. I recall nurses in the hospital
but I am not certain if they pm1icipaled in the treatment of Capt Fulgham. I was not
accompanied by a black NCO at the hospital, but there may have been a black >.Ie 0 on the
balloon recoveI), team, I recaU no body bags in the hospital and I am sure there w~re no
"aliens" at the hospital, just Dan Fulgham with a very odd looking head injury.

I was also involved in the joint Air Force, Navy, and l\.lassachusetts Institute of Technology
astronomical observation project Project Stargazer. The object of this prqject was to
make observations via a stabilized telescope mounted atop of a gondola suspended from a
high altitude balloon. I was the USAF project officer and Dr J. Allen Hynek \vas the
scientific advisor. I worked very closely with Dr Hynek over a pcriod of five years hom
] 958 to 1963. Dr Hynek would typica.lly spend a half day \-vorking on Stargazer and then
the rest of the day participating as one of the consultants on the CFO study, Project
Bluebook, that was also conducted 'It \\ right-Panerson AFB . Dr Hynek. as the s<;ienlific
advisor to Stargazer, was very familiar with the techniques and capabilibes of the ;\ir Force

176
deploy and impacted the ground in fuU view of the ladies at Gen. Rawling"s home. I acted
quidJy to retlievl;; the dununy and went to the impact site and recovered it by tlu'o\ving it in
the back of a picl\up truck and quiclJy dri\ing away. I .ater that day I received a C(lU from
Col Stapp \vho inlonncd me that some of the \vomen at the party believed that the dummy
\vas J human Jnd they were appaUed to see the careless nature in \vhich tht: obviously clcnd
or injured "parachutist" \-vas hauled a\vay .

.\( B oHoman .-\FB recoverit:s of the dummies were handled by the Balloon Branch but
members of my project team. including myself: often assisted. The standard procedure \vas
to track the dumm~' both f-rom the ground and air to attempt to rt:cover the dummies in a
timely manner. ()n the ground we used an assortment of Air Force vehjcles to track and
rt:i:ovcr not only Ihe dummies but also other scientific balloon paylo(lcl'l. Wt: used trucks.
communications vans, converh::d field ambulances. cranes. and trailers. In the air we used
helit;oplers. C ---l7s tranc;ports. and 1.- J9 and L.-20 light observation air(;rait. On o(;(;3sion
ci"ilians \\-ould observe our recov~' operations. We often attracted a crmvd due to the odd
appearance of the baUoon payloads and dummies and also the aircraft that circled overhead
or landed on nearby roads. ~ .~ al~o used many of the same procedures and equipment 10
laum:h hom ofr range locations. During the recoveries weapons were not camed because
there \vas no dassified intonnation or I;:quipmenl. I do not recall any altercations of any
kind ...\t no time did lor any of the pcrsOJUlel makes threats against civilians. We always
attempted to maintain good relations \vilh the 10(;31 civilians and explained the purpose of
the project to them if they asked. We were dire(;ted to remove as much of the material
dropped by the balloon as possible. Somt:timcs this \vas cliHicult bccausl;: the baUoon and
payload would hreak apart and cover a large area. \Ve collected the debris in these cases by
"fanning our' across a field until we had collected cVl;:n very small portions of the payload
and baUoon. \Ve were paJ1icuiarly careful to rewver the large plastic balloons because
Gattk ,,,ould ingest the material and the ranchers would file c1aims against the government.
Additionally, there ~vere rc\"vard notices that offered twenty five dollars tor the return of the;:
~quipmen t attached to ea\:h of the baUoons. I wrote a book. The Long. Lt)ne~1- L.eup (F.P.
Dutton & Co., 196 1). thaI completely describes Proje t Excelsior and my participation .

. \Iso as a part of the high altitude baUoon projects, I trained balloon pilots in t\Iay 1959 al
the request of Col Stapp. Col Stapp was concerned that [ might be injured as a result of
the hazardous nature of the pr<~jccts and he wanted backup pilots to be trained. The backup
pjjots. Capt Dan I'ulgham and Capt Bill Kaufman \.... ere volunteers trom the Aero \ Iedical
Laboratory and they \vere sent to Holloman fI'om Wright-Patterson for training on a
temporary duty basis _ On our second training night, Fulgham. Kaufman and I. tle\\i an
overnight mission that \vas launched at Holloman and ended with a crash northwest of
Ros\veU. Nl\.f. We \\ien: loUmved on this mission by an aircraft al night. a helicopter
during the day. and a ground crc\v in trucks at all times.
I recall that just after sunrise the weather had deteriorated and I directed Fulgham 10 land
the balloon in 3 small field. This \,laS the last suitable field before we ' .... ould overfly the
City of Ros\vcll. I remember approaching rhe tield just over the trees and I recall our
lonvard velocity was about 10-12 knots. a little jast for landing. When we touched dmvn
Fulgham cut the baUoon 3\Vay and due to the forward velocity the gondola flipped over
spilling ail three or us on the ground. While lying on the ground I realiz.ed that Fulgham

175
high altitude halloon program. Dr Hynek once approached mt and we discussed at length.
the possihility that A.ir Force high altitude balloons were responsible for many FFO
sightings . We cnded tlw conversation in agreement that the balloons probably accounted
for many of the (Vo sightings. In other conversations Dr Hynek always gave me the
impression that there \vere vcry fe\v L:FO sightings that could not he explained by good
scientific invt:stigation . At no time did Dr H~TIek mention or disCllSS the alkged "Ros\veU
Incident"". r was therefore 'tlabbt:rgasted .. \-",hen Dr Hynek appeared to believe that some
of these sightings \'Vcre of an extratcrrcstt;al origin.

I am not pal1 of any conspiracy to \ovithhold or provide miskading information to the

Cnited Statc~ Government or the American public. There is no dassified information that
I am withholding related to this inquiry and I have m:ver been threatened by U.S.
Government persons concerning refraining from tall,jng ilbout this matter.

/ Swom to and subscribed before me,

an individual authorized to administer
/
oaths. on this 2-t day of June 1995
at ./_ '" j

~Jt:d~~::~
\\lT~'ESS(s):

177
 STATE MENT O F W1TN ESS

Place: Date: 3 1 t\lay 95

I, Roland H. Lutz. CMSgt. USAF, (Ret), hereby state that James McAndrew was
identified as a Lieutenant, t S.-\FR on this date at my home and do hereby. voluntarily and
of my own frce ""ill, make the following statement. This was done without having been
subjected to any coercion, unlawful influence or unJawful inducement.

I enlisted in the US . . avy in 1947 and transferred to the U.S . Air force in 1958. In June.
1958 I was assigned to the tlight surgeon' s Oftll,,;C at Holloman AFB, NM as an Aero
Medical Technician. I served several tours in Southeast Asia and retired from the Air
Force in 1974 as an Aero Medical Superintendent.

On May 20-21. 1959 I was assigned to provide medical coverage for a balloon training
mission that took off from Holloman AFB and ended with a crash near Roswell ~I.
Capt Joe Kittinger was training two other pilots, Capt Fulgham and c.apt Kaulman. I
followed the balloon in an ambulance dUling the night and at daybreak 1 followed the
balloon in an H- 21 helicopter. Just after daybreak 1 saw the balloon crash and the three
pilots were dumped fonn the gondola. I immediately infonned the helicopter pilot and \ve
landed in a held on which cattk were grazmg. I recall the rancher was upset hecause the
heliwpter was frighrening rus cattle and some cattle had gotten out of the tidd .

I assesed the injuries to the pilots and recommended they be taken immediately to the
closest hospital which was at Walker AFR apprximately 5 to 10 minutes away by
helicopter. Capt Fulgham' s head was swelling due to a hemotoma he received when the
gondola struck him. Capt Kittinger was cut on the face and was bleeding. Capt Kaufman
was uninjured. At Walker I remember a telephone conversation with a flight surgeon who
told me to "go horne and sleep it off'. He apparently did not believe my story of three Air
Force pilots that were ";ctirns of a balloon crash. However. I was able to convince him and
he treated Capt Fulgham and Capt Kittinger. While al the hospital Capt Fulgham's head
had swelled enormously and his eyes were beginning to tum black.

I do not recall that anything unusual OCCUlTed at the hospital at \\ialker. I remember the
three pilots sitting on a bench in the hallway waiting to be treated. I do not remember that
Capt Kittinger was involved in an altercation with anyone while at the hospitaL if he had, I
would have known about it. ' apt Kittinger was concerned with getting medical treatment
for his injured crew member. Capt Fulgham, and returning to llolloman. I also do not
recall a black NCO accompanying Capt Kittinger while we were at the hospital. I do not
remember a nurse assisting in the lreatment of Capl Fulgham or Capt Kittinger. I also do
not remember a male civilian or any p~rsonnel or vehicles from a mortuary. and I do not
recall any remains in body bags in the hospital.

178
 I \vas present the entire time when the events described here took place. I am certain that
this event had nothing to do with 'space aliens" or any other irregular activity that \\iould
require a cover up . It was a baUoon crash and nothing el<;c.

Tam not pal1 of any conspiracy to withhold or provide misleading information to the
United States Govenunenl or the American public. There is no classified infolmation thai
I am withholding related to this inquiry and I have never been threatened by C .S.
Govenunent persons concerning retraining from talking about this matter.

SIG"N'ED : Subscribed and swom before me. an

incli"iduai autholized to administer
oaths this 31st day oOday 1995
at

Roland H. Lutz. CMSgt, USAF. (Ret) Jarttes ~v1cA.ndrew. 1st Lt. L'SAFR

ZS(S): t2L- L g/
/~ 7 { ---
. Harry C. Aderholt. Brig. Gen., US AF (Ret)

179
 ST.YIT\lE,\ T ()f' \\Tr~TS S

P'a~c :

l. Raymond .--\. \ ladson. l.t Co\. CSA.F (R~t). herehy slJtt that .lam~s :\ k,-\'ndrc\v \vas
i(knlili~d as a r-ieutcnan!. LSAFR on !.his datt;; at my plal.:c or
cmployrm:nt and do hcn.:hy.
voluntarily and of my o\'m tr~~ will. mak~ thi;; follmving statcmt:nt. This \vas dont: \vithout
ha\'ing hc<.m suhjectcd 10 any wCfcion. unl,mful intlut:m:e Of unlLmtul induccmenl .

I \\as hom. r'ILsc:d. and pres<::ntly f<::sidt: in :'\ew :\k~l.: o. I graduated from :'\l'\' :\lexiw
.\&\1 CoUeg<:: in 1954. I t:nlered the .\.ir Forl.:e in 1955 and was assigned a short time later
to thl.: .\ero \ kdi~al T.ahoratory at \\'right Pancrson .\FB. ( )H. .\t the . \ero :\kdical
T.aboratory r \Va: assigned to the Escape Section as a projcd officcr and t~sl paral:hutist.
DUling this time 1 also had c"tensive IXltticipation in V,lI;OUS aspects 01 the space progrtlm
and \\>orl..ed on the highly classitied C -2 projcct. I <;e1'\\,;(\ a tour of duly in .\J.lsl..a and at
thr.: School of ,\t:rospac~ !\ !edicinc al Brooks ,\H3. T\:. bdon: bt:ing r~assigned to thi::
,\~ro \ kdic.tl Lahoratory at \\ri.!1,ht Pattcrson. r retired in Irom Ih<.: . "-ir hm~,.; in 1979 and
. -
I am \:.uff(;ntly and Emironm(;nlal Specialist for Ih~ Stal~ or ~C\Y \ rc"ico .

The tirst pr j i::CI that I W J~; assign~d at \\'right Pancrson was Proj<.:cl 72 1~L later ~hangcd to
Projed 7~~2, This proj<::c1 was firsl known h~ ' the name High J)jyC and then \\'a.' "nO\\,n as
E.'\cdsior. Tht: object of this project \ovas to study tht: li'~e fall charJ..;;klistics of
anthropomorphic dummies h om balloons at altitudi::s of 50. 000 10 100,000 kt:!. roll(ming
satishlctor~ dununy drops. Cupt .Toe hittingcr made a scries of high altilude parachu l~
jumps thaI culminated \vith ;t jump from lO:UWO feel.

1 Jssumed the dutit:s of Projt:ct Offict:r for the dummy drops in the spring of 1t.>S6. I made;
numi.:rous trips to Ilolloman .\1-'13. :\!\L (hI.: si te of th e drops, from 1956 until (hI.: end oj'
the projecr in 1t.>5t.> (dummjes \'ien: al. 0 dropped for this project at \\Iight Paltt:rson .\1-' B
by pcrsonnd ti'om tht: Pamchute Branch ). I \\.. rotc r;vo !el.:hnical repor1s t.hat d~st;riht:d th~
project in (;()nsi d~rahk d~t'lil . The typ~ of anthropomorphic dumm~ ' used primarily \\as
mnnut:,-.:turcd hy . \Iderson Llhoratork:s hut \\'e nlso used Sien'a \ fJnul~l(.:l'uring I~'p e
dummies. Both of these dummies art shown in thc technical rcpOr1s . Th..: , kkrsoll
dumm\ hJd t~lcia l tCatures that \veri': not lik-l.il~ nnd cars Ihat were not \\od1 ddint:d . The
dummies were;; outfitted \ovilh flight suits 01 \';Jt;ous colors. fuchsia. olive drab. and sage
gn.'l~n (a shade of gray). \\'1.: l,'.hosl' the ,\ldtT')on dumm~' hL'CaUSL~ it \-VtlS n.'lati\'(')y
in~xpcnsj '(; as 12-0mpared to the Siena dununv.

\\',; encounkr~d cOl1sid~rahk diHiculty dr JppiJIg the dummies h'om th~ balloons.
designed the rack thaI suspended the dummies. t',vo at a rimc. hom the halloon . ( )n
num<.:J'O us oCl.:asions the dummies \\<.:re fouled dUling thc rckast: s~quence and thc dummy
rode a "stn::amcr" all Iht: way 10 the ground. Other times malfunt;tions oi.:cum:::d that
caused the two dummies and the entire rack assembly to descend to the ground as one
package. BOlh or these instani.:es arc described in the tCi.:hnlcal reports,

180
I paJ1icipatcd in at knsl two dummy rccoveri~s, The meteorologist from the Balloon
Branch. Du\"", (,rildenb~rg. would dctcnnine Ih~ b~<;l place to laun~h the balloons
depending on the prevailing weather conditions, Du\"e also predkted. with considerable
ac~uracy, \-vhere the dummies \\ould impact. I specilically recall a dummy I recovered ncar
the .romada test range. behveen Leasburg and Organ . . i~1. During thit.; recov~ry J dro\'\,;
a weapons canier and I 'vas only able to locate one of the dummies. I never t()Und out
what happened to the other one. The ne.'\t recovery I remember was on J ranch just
southwest of Ros\.vel1. \\'e were given directions to the area hy the baUoon hranch
personnel who had he en contacted by a rancher. The equipment had re\v<lrd notices taped
to them to aid in recovery. We; ''len I to the Smith ranch. I n.:rm.:mber the name because I
went to \ie,\- \ lexico ..\&tvl \\lith the rancher. I knew him as Smitty, \~ 'c searched that day
ti'om horsehack and could nol Jjnd the dummies. The following day \ve reslImed ollr
search from horseback and again could not lind the dummies. I 3tsO recall th:lt Smitty
asked Il~ for some of [he parachute material so he \:ould make a shil1. We dropped many
dummie... trom the balloons and I knO\V many wen; not immediately recovered. but most
\"~rc

I served for twenty tive years in the .-\ir Foree Jnd most of those years wen.! in the 'lero
mcdi~.1l tield. I participated in the space program and th<.: highly classified early stages of
C-2 program. Never dUling this time wen~ "aliens" or "llying saucers" .. pan of any
project. There were. however. countless achievements by the :\ir Force in at:rospace
mcdicim; that wt:rc thl;; n:sult of dedicated scientific research. It seems hl.dy 10 me Ih~tl
someone could have mistaken our anthropomorphk dummies for something that they weI'
not.

I am not part of any conspiracy to withhold or prm.ide misleading inlonnation to the

Cnited Slates Government or the .\merican publi~ . Tht:re is no classified infOlmiltion that
I am \>vithholding related 10 this inquir}' and I h.lvc never been threatened by t:. s.
Government persons concerning refr.lining from talking about tlUs matter.

SIG,\'ED: S\VOlll (0and subsclibed bdorc me.

an indi\idual authorized to 3dminister
oaths. on this 20 day ofJun;;; 1~95
at l
.'

/j
.. /
.'

_. L~~ ..".. (
.'
.~ I .
- ....,. . -+-----!-- - :-

Raymond .\. \13d~on . Lt Col. 1.1SAF (Ret) .limes \fcAndre\>v. l~t 1.1. t'S:\FR

\\Tr~r:SS(s) :

181
 STATEMENT OF WITNESS
Date 25 April 1996 Place Aztec, NM

I Frank B. Nordstrom, M.D, hereby state that James McAndrew, was identified as a
Captain, USAFR on this date at my home and do hereby, voluntarily and of my own free
will, make the following statement. This was done without having been subjected to any
coercion, unlawful influence or unlawful inducement.

I was on active duty in the US Air Force and stationed at Walker AFB, Roswell, NM from
July 1951 until June 1953. During that time I was a pediatrician assigned to the base
hospital. Following my tour of duty with the Air Force I attended the University of
Colorado as a resident in pediatrics. In July 1954 I relocated to Farmington, NM and
began a private pediatric practice. I retired from private practice in 1987 and became the
Medical Director of the San Juan Regional Medical Center, which is also located in
Farmington, NM. In 1989 J retired from that position and presently reside in Aztec, NM .

I have been shown two transcripts of interviews where an individual named Glenn Dennis
described conversations and visits he claims he had with a pediatrician in the late 1940s or
early 1950s in Farmington, NM. According to these interviews, Mr Dennis also claims that
this pediatrician had previously served at the hospital at Walker AFBlRoswell AAF . Since
I am the only physician in Farmington, NM who previously served at the Walker
AFB/Roswell AAF hospital, I believe J am the person he is referring to in these interviews.
I am confident of this because I know I was the first pediatrician to practice in
Fannington, which when I arrived in 1954, was a small community of approximately 8,000
people. I remained the sole pediatrician there for approximately 20 years and I know
most, if not all, of the physicians in the area.

Even though I believe I am the person Mr Dennis referred to in the interviews, I do not
remember him. I can state with reasonable certainty that I cannot recall any conversations
with him, and he, to my knowledge, never visited me in Farmington, NM, in Colorado, or
anyplace else. I have been told, however, that a person named Glenn Dennis operated a
drugstore in the late 1950s-early 1960s, just outside Farmington, in Aztec, NM. But I do
not recall any contact with him there either.

While I was stationed at Walker AFB, I do not recall any incidents that may explain the
infonnation Mr Dennis provided in the interviews. To my knowledge there was only one
fatal aircraft accident during my tour of duty and that accident involved a Walker AFB
based aircraft in the United Kingdom. I was not involved in any aspect of that accident. I
also do not recall any other incidents such as automobile accidents or house fires that may
be the source of this infonnation. Nor do I recall a nurse named Lt Naiomi Selff or a nurse
named Capt "Slats" Wilson. While at Walker AFB I did not witness or hear rumors of
anything that involved flying saucers, aliens, or anything else of an extraterrestrial nature.

I am not part of a conspiracy to withhold information from either the US government or

the American public. there is no classified infonnation that I am withholding related to

182
 this inquiry and I have not been threatened by US government persons concerning not
talking about this matter.

SIGNED: Subscribed and sworn before, a

person authorized to administer oaths
this
25th day of April 1996 at Aztec, NM

~~ ~fop- ~ 9t.9-
Frank B. Nordstrom, M.D.

WITNESS:

183
Appendix C

185
 Transcript of Interview with
Gerald Anderson*
Alleged firsthand witness to
"Crash Site" Two
(allegedly 175 miles northwest of Roswell)
A: We drove down to the Plains of San Agustin which is west of
Socorro, New Mexico in the Magdalena, Datil, area. We were down there
looking for banded and moss agate, which according to my uncle Ted and my
cousin Victor was prevalent in the area. My brother being an amateur rock
hound had wanted to get some of this. That wa<; a way of showing us around the
area. They had relatives down in Magdalena that they wanted to introduce us to.
So we had gone down there and we got down in the Horse Springs
area and had driven off onto the plains down an old rutted road for, oh, a mile
or so and it seemed like a long ways. We parked the car, got out of the car
and walked down a hillside.
There's a semi-forest, I guess you could say. It had pinon trees and
scrub oak and stuff like that on it and we walked-well, not scmb oak, but
cedar- and walked down the hillside into an arroyo, a dry wash, and then
walked south down a dry wash toward where the agates were supposed to be at.
As we came around a bend in the arroyo that had pinon and cedar
trees growing, we were able to see farther ahead down the arroyo and on the
next ridge line there was a large silver disc shaped object was embedded in
this side of the ridge line ... there was debris and wreckage strewn about the
area mainly this thing was intact. I would estimate its size from an adult
perspective to something like 35 feet in diameter. I've beard other people
who were tbere say they tbought it was like 50 feet. But as an adult, I would
say about 35 feet in diameter, quite large. When we got up to it there were
four bodies there ... not human, there was two of them that were obviously
dead, one of them was obviously very badly inj ured, and one of them
apparently suffered no ill effects ... or it didn't appear to be injured and was
ambulatory, was mobile. It was just setting there next to the one ...
Q: Were they right next to the vehicle?
A: Right next to it. Right under the edge of it. And this craft had
apparently come in from the east and bounced off one ridge line, plowing
through this arroyo area and then crashed into the ridge line and embedded
itself. They were sitting back under the edge, it was kind of tilted up like this
and they were sitting back under the edge here. And I'm assuming that this
one creature that was all right had laid this material on the ground but it
looked like unrolled tinfoil that these other three creatures were laying on.

* Exerpted fro m raw fo otage used to prepare the video , Recollection s of Ros well Part II,
(Washington, D.C.: F und for UFO Research, \993 ).

187
Like it was trying-like you do a person in shock, you know, a put him on a
blanket, that kind of thing. And apparently it had some boxes there around it
and had apparently been trying to give first aid or help these other creatures
when we first got there.
As we approached, the creature drew back like this , like it was in
fear, like we were going to hurt it. And it wasn't very long , you know, we
were trying to communicate with it, the adults were. It seemed to calm down
and just sat there and kind of looked back and fortb, watching them,
apparently trying to figure out what was going on ...
Q: What did it look like, a little bit more.
A: These creatures, all of them, were, oh, about four foot tall,
four and a half feet tall. They had very large heads that were shaped larger
on the top and they kind of tapered down, not to a real sharp point but just
tapered down where they were thin. And they had very large, very large ,
oval shaped or almond shaped, [ guess you could say, black eyes. The head ...
They were so shiny, they had almost a bluish tint to them when the light
reflected off of them. Their skin coloration, the best way that I could
describe that is it was kind of a bluish tinted milky-white. II looked like
someone in shock. And the ones that were laying on the ground were
really-really looked more that way, more blue in the light, you know...
Q: How about ears, nose, mouth?
A: No, there were no visible ears on the creatures except like-
if you was just to cover your ear like this to where there was just a rise there
and then a hole without, you know, your ear lobe and the rest of the area ...
Q: How about nose?
A: It was-the nose was very, very small, almost imperceptible.
It's like two holes, straight in; and the lips were just a straight line. It was like
a cut and you couldn't see, just nhe lips like we have, it was just a slit. And ...
Q: What hair color? Sound?
A: Pardon?
Q: What hair color?
A: There was no hair. They were completely bald.
Q: And no sounds?
A: I never heard a sound one, not out of any of the creatures
including the one that was ...
Q: Did you see fingers?
A: Yes, they had fingers like this. They didn't have a little finger.
They just had the thumb and three extra digits except the center digit was
longer and the other two were about the same size. They were very long and
slender and looked very delicate and I made the statement before and I'll

188
make it again, I think he would have made an excellent violinist because of
the structure of their hands.
They were wearing one piece suits. All of them were dressed
exactly the same. It was sort of a real shiny silverish gray coLor.
Q: No zippers, buttons ?
A: No, I saw no zippers, no buttons.
Q: Insignias ?
A: No, no insignias. The only thing that was different, you
know, and they all had this, but the only that was different from the silvery
gray thing, the suit, was that down like a seam line, like there was a seam
on his shoulder and around the collar it was trimmed in what appeared to
be maroon, like cording.
Then the suits were continuous with their footwear. We could see
right this area down, it seemed to be less pliable then it was up here, like
this was a stiffer area, like they were boots or shoes or something. But they
were all dressed exactly the same.
Q: Okay. So you and your family are talking back and forth,
wondering what was going on, what did your family say? I mean ...
A: Well...
Q: ... did they say anything?
A: Yes, my brother, one of his fust remarks I heard him say him
say, "That's a god damn spaceship." You know there were bodies up there
and, you know, I was told not to go up there, which I didn't. And .. .
Q: How old was your brother at the time?
A He was in his early twenties, I think, 20, 21, something like that.
Q: He was a lot older that you were?
A : Oh, yes, considerably.
When we got up there I kind of meandered off to one side. This thing
was cocked up and I was standing here, the bodies were here, and everybody else
was kind of down here except my cousin Victor was over here playing and
looking in this gaping hole on the side of this disk. And it was shaped just like a
discus except for a round dome was up on top and there was this big gaping gash
in there. We could ee inside and it looked like a double hull.
Q: How big-explain it? The gash.
A: The dome?
Q: No, the gash.
A: Well, it covered the greater majority from the center of the
craft out. It was just like a gaping hole in there. I mean I'm thinking, you
know, it's like about 32, 35 feet in diameter so we're talking about 17 feet

189
maybe . Most of that one side was ripped open like that. You could see
inside and you could see another double hull, like-in there . And there were
just rows of components that was on there.
And there were lights that flashed on and off. Some of them were
steady and some were flashing. There was a lot of debris and stuff hanging
out of the hole. There was evidence that there apparently had been fire . It
looked like it had been burned along the edge there. The gash ...
Q: Now this wasn't a gash that could have been caused by the
thing coming in for the ground? It wasn ' t at the leading edge of the vehicle?
A: No, no. This was in the side like- it almost appeared it was
elliptical. It almost appeared as if something the same shape as the disk we
were looking at had hit that same-you know, like it hit the disk and left
an imprint that pretty closely approximated the outside diameter of the disk
itsel f. And it appeared to be caved in looking, kind of like it hit them like
this and it just crumpled and caved in and ripped it open.
Q: Okay, so you're there, you take all this in, everybody is
mystified . What were the circumstances outside? Hot, cold?
A: Very, very hot. I ncredible to me, being the first time in New
Mexico and coming from back east. I had dry heaves. It was like the inside
of an oven. It was unbelievable to me. You know, the odd part about this
was that the closer you got to it, the cooler it was. And standing under it in
the shade there next to these creatures' bodies, it was like refrigerated air
conditioning. And ...
Q: Did you feel air corning out of this thing?
A: No, it was just like it was (inaudible).
And I remember reaching up and putting my hand on the side of it
but I think I was afraid I was going to hit my head because there was enough
room for me as small child, you know, I was approximately the same size as
these creatures, to walk up under there and stand there but I kind of did like
that, put my hand up against this thing.
Q: What did it feel like?
A: It was ice cold. It felt like it just came out of a freezer.
Q: Was it smooth? Was it rough?
A: It was very smooth. It had a very smooth texture to it. It was
obviously made out of metal. It was very solid and it was very cold, ice cold.
And there was a smell in the area. It smelled volatile, acrid, like
acetone. And that seemed to be corning out of that gash , that smell. But the
c loser you got to this thing , the cooler it was so, you know, I kind of
remained there.
And I guess that while they were over here, my father and my
uncle Ted and my brother. Uncle Ted was trying to talk to thi s thing in

190
Spanjsh and of course it didn't understand a word he srud . And dad tried to
talk to it and then they tried, you know, sign language and that didn't work.
And I don ' t know, for some reason, Ijust- I reached down and
touched it, this one that was laying next to me. When I touched it I realized
and I jumped back. It scared me. It startled me because I suddenly realized
that these weren't dolls. I thought they were plastic dolls. And I- you know,
it was still in my mind that these were dolls until I touched it and tben I
realized, you know, this was a dead thing.
I'd seen dead relatives before and unfortunately made a mistake
one time in touching a relative that was in a casket and I just knew this was a
dead thing and it scared me, and I ran around behind my father and my uncle
and this thing was sitting there on the ground and it kept looking back and
forth. And it just had its hands like this in its lap, and just kept looking back
and forth between the three of them and- like it was trying to understand.
And all of a sudden it just turned and looked right straight at me
between my uncle Ted and myself. And this is when- it was just like an
explosion of things in my head, things... I started, you know, feeling, just
terrible depre sion and loneliness and fear and just, you know, awful, awful
feelings that just suddenly burst in to my mind there. I don't know if that
meant that it was communicating with me and I was the only one there that
it could communicate with because I was a kid. I don't know.
I turned and ran and I ran across the arroyo and up on the area that
it had bounced off of during the crash. I was just standing there looking
down at this scene, you know, at my family, and off in the distance I could
see cattle grazing. I could see a windmill and could see dust trails out on the
plains out there.
And, oh, I wa there for a while and then I carne back down. I
guess we were there- Victor was, when I got back down there Victor was up
in the craft and Ted yelJed at him to get out of there and Glen went over and
grabbed bim by the belt and jerked him around ...
Q: That's your brother?
A: Yes.
And jerked him off, says, "Get out because this thing may explode
and kill us all," you know, and then of course he went prowling around in there.
I was kind of standing off to one side looking. That's why I knew
that there was- I can look off these rocks that I was standing on and look
right into this thing. That's why I knew, you know, about the lights and the
components and stuff.
And then I heard other people talking. I turned and there was a
group of people coming up the arroyo from out on the plains from the south.
They had come up there and of course they walked up and was talking.
Q: How many?
A: There was an older man and five younger students.

191
 Q: Boys, girls?
A: Three boys and two girls. And they were all, you know,
introducing, talking to my father and my uncle and my brother. ..
Q: What did the older one look like?
A: He was a very tall man, a very big man. He was wearing a
pith helmet when he first came up, one of those kind of expl orer helmets.
And he was bald and I know that because he had taken it off and he had, you
know, wiped it with a handkerchief and put it back on. He was a balding
man. And he had a round face. He was very ruddy completed. A big man,
and he apparently was a doctor because they kept calling him doctor and it
was my understanding that it was an archeological group th at was out there
on some kind of summer thing. And they talked and he apparently was able
to speak several foreign languages and he tried to talk to this creature several
times in different languages, again to no avai l.
Q: How did they happen to be there? Had he seen the thing ...
A: Well, they claim that they saw-they said they saw this thing
come down the night before in flight , you know, and they thought it was a
meteoritc and they had talked about well, early in the morning, you know,
we'll go over and see thi s, where this meteor came down, because that's what
they thought it was.
And when the sun came up the next morning, you know, and they
got about their business, got up and somebody looked over and said, you
know, they saw this shiny metal and stuff across the plains there and they
realized it wasn't a meteorite, it may have been an airplane that had crashed
so they all decided to go over tbere and see if there was anybody left alive,
you know, that was hurt that needed help.
Q: They had driven over?
A: No, they walked over apparently, the way I understand it.
And it's quite a ways across that plain so it had to take a very long time to do
thi s or they may have had a vehic le, I don ' t know. That's an assumption, I
think, on my part, where they walked.
Q: Okay. So they 're around .. .
A: But they came across ...
Q: .. .with the family ...
A: ... the plains. I don't know why I said that. I'm not sure if
they d.rove or not. I didn' t hear any cars.
Q: And then somebody else shows up?
A: Yes , they were down just, oh, 15 maybe 20 minutes tops , you
know. And they were picking up things, some of the students. And this Dr.
Buskirk, that they called him, thi s one girl went up and said, "Look, doctor,

192
wouldn't this make a beautiful ring?" And she was holding what looked like
a red rod, a red tube that was some kind of silvery-red.
And he kind of snapped at her, you know, "Put that down because
you don't know what that thing is. That thing could hurt you. Don't pick
this stuff up."
And she kind of said, "Well, yes, okay, doctor." And then he went
back to what he was doing and she walked away and put it in her pocket.
And a lot of them were doing this, sort of picking up things and
feeling things. I was picking up things and feeling things. It was all kinds of
material and metal, stuff like that. I heard it, well, we all heard it, the sound
of a motor coming, like a truck. And I went back up the incline area to the
ridge line and I could see out there, there was a truck corning up. It was an
old pick-up truck. It was sort of a beige color, a tan colored van with an
antenna on it. And it stopped and this guy got out and he's wearing brown
clothes. He's got boots on and he's wearing a straw hat, just like the kind
that Harry Truman always wore, and he had wire rimmed glasses. He was a
big man and he looked exactly like Harry Truman to me. You know, I d seen
him in the Movietone News ...
Q: He was president then.
A: Yes, I was well aware who Harry Truman was. Everybody
was. He was kind of a hero, you know, and he just kind of looked like him
except bigger, bigger. You know, I don't think he- and he didn't look as old
either. His hair was kind of light gray.
And he walked over there and they got to talking, you know, with
everybody and he told them that he worked out on the plains out there and
that he made maps and that he had seen the wreckage from out there on the
plains and he saw the people and he thought it was a plane wreck and, you
know, that something was going on and he came over to see.
And he hadn't been there but just a very, very few minutes when
we heard all kinds of motors and engines straining and stuff. And here
comes a military car with a big white star on the side of it follow ed by a six-
by which is a military truck with a kind of canvas wagon, kind of a canvas
thing over it and it's full of soldiers. They've got guns . And right behind
them is what we call a four-by which is like a medium sized jeep/truck
situation and it had two big high whip antennas, all kinds of radio gear in the
back and a guy back there with ear phones and stuff on and he's, you know,
working these radios. And they all pulled up and stopped.
Q: Which direction did they come from, do you know?
A: They came from the north, from the Horse Springs area, right...
Q: SO they could have come off the highway there ...
A: Oh, yes. I'm sure that's exactly how they got there. They
come off the highway the same way we did. Well, in the meantime, when
the stopped, this black soldier, this sergeant, the reason I know he was a

193
sergeant, my brother told me he was, and he got out of this car and then a
guy got out on the other side and he was a, Glen said he was a captain, he
told me later he was a captain and this guy had orange and red hair. So all
the soldiers and them came running over there pointing guns at people,
telling them, "Get away, get away, get away," you know? And when this
creature saw these people, the military, he went nuts. He went into an
absolute panic, worse than what he did when he saw us,
Q: Did he move around or just his eyes or...
A: He just, he just...
Q Oh, okay.
A: ... went crazy. And it was like .. .
Q: Like he was scared?
A: Yes, like he was looking for a place to run and hide.
Q: But he never got up?
A: He never got up. He never left the beings that were next to him .
And this red headed officer, this guy was a real butt hole. He made
all the threats. He threatened to have people shot.
Q: Everybody?
A: He went, "Get away, get away," you know, "We'll shoot. Get
away from there. This is a military senet." You know, just screaming and
hollering. He told my uncle and my father that if they didn't want to spend
the rest of their life in prison they would never say anything about what they
saw there, if they ever wanted to see us kids again, they'd take the kids away.
They 'd never see the kids, you know, meaning me and Victor. That we'd
better keep our mouths shut because if we did not, this is what was going to
happen. They were threatening people and pushing people ...
Q: The students as well and Dr. Buskirk?
A: Oh , yes. They were hustling everybody. And one of the
soldiers pushed my uncle. He had a rifle like this and he shoved him back
like that. Well , that was something you didn't do to my uncle Ted. Ted had a
violent temper. And he grabbed the rifle and reached over top and smacked
this guy and dropped him right there. And Ted would go out and fight, heck,
this guy 's a cowboy. He'll hit you in a minute.
And of course when he did that there was bolts opened and I guess
cocking, they were cocking their rifles. They were pointing guns at people
and everybody Buskirk and Glen and dad grabbed him, you know, pulled
him back and got him away. "No, don 't, Ted, they'Fe going to shoot. Don't
do that." You know, trying to stop this. And I think we came very close to
having someone shot.
Then they really started threatening, you know, and they ...

194
 Q: Did the redhead do all the talking, pretty much?
A: Pretty much. Except once in a while the sergeant would, you
know, chime in and make statements like that to other people in response to
the redhead. But mainly it was the redhead .. .
Q: Was there a name tag?
A: Yes, sir, there was. His name was Armstrong. And I'm not
sure if I know that from having read it or know that from remembering it and
now being able to read it in my memory, or if someone said that to me. But
his name was Armstrong, it was right here on his uniform.
Q: But he chased you guys away pretty quick?
A: Yes, yes, he did.
And they herded us up like cattle and we were just up the arroyo,
back in the direction we came from, over the protest of this Dr. Buskirk who
said, "No, no, we 've got to go the other way. We came from over there."
I don't care where you came from, get your ass up the arroyo."
And they ran us up the arroyo and ...
Q: SO you get to your car again?
A: ~b, right.
Now they took us up the arroyo and j ust over the bill we came
down, they broke us off and moved us up the hill.
Now this whole time, no one has ever frisked us down, no one has
ever checked our pockets to see if we picked up any of this material and this
girl, Agnes, still had that stuff in her pocket and some of the other students had
stuff. To my knowledge, up to that point, they had not been searched. Whether
they did so afterward, I don't know. They nev r searched us, ever. They ran us
back up the hill and when we got to where the car wa ' parked, where dad had
parked the car up there, there's ajeep with a guy sitting in the back and there is
a mounted machine gun in the back of this jeep and all of these soldiers.
The jeep pulls out, we're told to get in the car, we follow the jeep, and the
soldiers go with us all the way back out to the highway. When we get back out to the
highway, they set us right there. They wouldn't let us out of the car. They wouldn't
let us move forward. I don't know whether they were making a decision or what
When we got out to the highway, this place was absolutely full of
military personnel, military equipment. There was airplanes sitting out there
that they had landed on the highway.
Q: Did you see any airplanes when you were back at the site?
A: Yes, there was airplanes in the sky but nobody thought much
about. You know, I didn't think anything about it. I was used to airplanes being
in the sky, having been raised in Indianapolis Indiana, the home of the Norden
bombsight, you know, the sky was always full of military aircraft at night.
And when we get back on to the highway, there's observation
aircraft, you know, high winged aircraft, and there's one, of what I know now

195
to be a C-47 setting there. And how we didn ' t hear that land is beyond me
and how he landed-well, of course, I guess you could land it if you're a
good pilot out there as there were no poles or anything.
And it was-they had torn the fence down on the north side of the
highway and all this equipment was setting back up there. The plane was
up there and they were taking stuff out of the plane. There was military
ambulances and there were trucks with-like wreckers, cranes on them. And
there was tankers, like maybe had fuel or water in them. There was just-
everywhere you looked there was military.
Q: A major recovery operation?
A: Yes, it looked like an invasion force . It really did.
And they were all wearing these light khaki uniforms. They didn't
look like, you know, olive drabs. They were light khaki and they all had the
same patch over their-that kind of blue funny patch with the circles on it,
was on his shoulder.
And a lot ...
Q: Do you have a clue as to where they came from? Did your
brother or your uncle?
A: No. I don't know where they came from. No, I don't think
anybody ever ascertained that.
There were a lot of MP patches and some of them were wearing
nightsticks off of these webbed utility belts. They had night sticks and they
had .4S's in holsters, you know, the automatics , full holsters. And these were
the people that were giving most of the orders.
They had the road barricaded off out there and we sat there for a
very long time and, you know, we were getting thirsty and everything and we
asked if we could go back to Horse Springs to get some water.
"Oh, no, no. You can' t through there."
And right after that, they said, "Now you just tum around and you
head out of here now and you go to Socorro," and this is the redhead again,
"Keep you mouths shut. lust keep going and don't look back."
Weli, as we drovc away, you know, dad, "The hell with it, we ' ll go
to Magdalena. We'll get water in Magdalena." You know, because that's
where lohn Trujillo lived, a relative of Ted 's.
And so as we drove away, I was looking out the back window and I
could see Dr. Buskirk and these kids and that guy, the guy in the pick-up was
standing there and this Dr. Buskirk was doing just like this in this redheaded
OffiCCT'S face and he kept pointing back behind him and I guess that meant,
you know, we've got to go back that way and he was fed up with this guy or
something and he was shaking his finger in his face when they were yelling
at each other and that's pretty much the last I saw of the whole situation. I
don't know what happened after that because we just kept going.

(END)

196
 Transcript of Interview with
W. Glenn Dennis*
(Alleged firsthand witness to
events at the Roswell AAF hospital)
Q: You started getting calls from the base mortuary officer is that
right, some time in the afternoon on some day in July [1947].
A: Right after noon, yeah.
Q: Do you recall, was that before the story appeared in the
[Roswell Daily] Record?
A: I don't know. I'm sure it was. I can't honestly say, but I
don't think the paper came out until the next day, I don't think. I'm just
assuming that.
Q: I understand. When things like that happen to me way after
the fact I try to remember, and I wasn't sure if you had any recollection or
not. It was the base mortuary officer who called you, not any of the MDs
out there.
A: No.
Q: He was just, the mortuary officer was just the guy...
A: We used to have a standing joke. What did you do that was so
bad they made you the mortuary officer.
Q: Exactly.
A: He wasn't a doctor or anything, but he was an officer and
he was probably some old boy they was trying to figure out something to
do with.
We used to all have them come in even the officer himself, say,
"God, I didn't know I screwed up that bad."
Q: Was this a guy you'd worked with before? Somebody you
knew real well?
A: No. Those guys come and go.
Q: I realize that. You don't remember what his name was or
anything like that?
A: No. I'm like Bob [Shirkey]. I think if I would see it or heard
it or something I might. Those guys, they were in and out. The mortuary
officer, usually they would appoint some sergeant or somebody. The only
time the doctors were involved is when you 'd have an embalming inspection

* W. Glenn Dennis , interview with Karl T. Pflock , November 2, 1992.

197
or dress inspection where the doctors came in and exami ned the body to
make sure everything was right. You had another inspection to make sure
their dog tags , make sure all the medals and everything ...
They always had two crews of inspectors. The doctors were only
involved in the cause of death or the autopsies or identification process, dental
chalts and all that. After they did their work, then a doctor would always come
in and make sure the body was embalmed because (they] know more about it
than the other people. But they were involved before. You know.
Q: The reason they contacted you was because Burt Ballard's
funeral home up here had a contract with the base, right?
A: Yeah.
Q: You worked for Burt for a lot of years, didn't you ?
A: Yeah, a long time.
Q: When did you fi rst go to work for him?
A: I went to work for him, Twas hanging around the funeral
home when I was like a fre shman in high school. I'd want to make some
extra money. " I'll give you 50 cents to wash the hearse." I knew hi s
daughter real well. We were all in school together. That's where I really
got involved in the funeral home. I just kind of worked my way in it.
Q: He basically taught you the trade and all that.
A: Oh, yeah. My folks weren't in the funeral business.
Q: The reason I was curiolls about it was because when I went
back ... I'm one of these guys that goes to Washington and then gets fed
up and leaves and swears I'm never going to go back, and then I go back
anyway. But the last time I went back and did that, l shared a townhouse
with a guy for awhile who was a mortician from Michigan. But he had to
go through all this formal training and all this rigmarole .. .
A: No. That started in (inaudible). Maybe you don ' t want to
hear this, but I was in the 9th grade, and this teacher was going around and
wanted us to write a compos ition on what we wanted to be when we
graduated from school. What were our future plans. I was kind of a wise
guy, I guess I must have been, but ] said undertaker, and I don ' t even know
why. AU the girls squealed, so I got a little attention. Then she said okay,
if that's what you want to do then you 've got a week, you bring me your
composition. I want to know why you want to be an undertaker.
So I went to the funeral home. They didn't have any books in those
days or anything, but that's where I went. That's why i got involved in it, started.
Q: How long were you in that business before you ... I know you
ran the Wortley Hotel up in Lincoln (N.M.].
A: Oh, that was after I retired.

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 Q: Oh, I see, you retired from the mortuary business ...
A: Oh, yeah. I was in the funeral business 33 years.
Q: All the time with Ballard?
A: Oh no, I had my own funeral home over in Las Cruces [N.M.],
and one in Soccoro [N.M.].
Q: Oh, okay.
Speaking of that, do you know Norman Todd or his family?
A: His dad and I took the state board together. He was at Clovis
[N.M.]. Norman's his son isn't it?
Q: Yeah. He's a lawyer over in Las Cruces [N.M.]. His ...
A: Wasn't his dad the funeral director in Clovis [NM.]?
Q: I think so. The reason I know him is because Mike Cook,
who is Steve Schiff's press secretary, and he have been friends ever since
they were in kindergarten together. It turns out that Iris Todd, I guess his
stepmother, is the niece of Loretta Proctor. So talk about small world.
You got these calls from the mortuary officer who was asking you
all these questions. We don' t have to go back through all of this. Then at
some point you decided to go out to the base. What took you to the base?
A: At some point I didn't decide, that's not correct. Somebody
wrote that, but I don ' t think it's right. The way I ended up out at the base
later, we had the ambulance service. The way I got it, the ambulance service,
I got a call, was an airman that was hurt. I took him to the base. The best I
remember, he wasn't on a stretcher or anything because we walked up the
ramp and he sat up in the front seat with me. So he weren't real bad and
weren't dying. Anyway ... This guy walked in, I walked him in. Where I
usually park the ambulance, there was a field ambulance there. I had to go
back up to the front. The airman and I walked up the ramps. That's why I
went to the base.
Q: The hospital in those days was apparently a complex of
buildings, right?
A: Yeah. Kind of like Bob [Shirkey] said, like the officer's club.
They're all wooden barrack types.
Q: SO the building that 's out there now, the rehab center is a
completely new building and had nothing to do with that.
A2 [Bob Shirkey]: No. Think of a long walkway, like a tunnel,
attached to the front of a series of...
Q: I know just what you're talking about.
A: .. .with a little of breezeway between each building, the best I
remember it. Isn't that right, Bob?

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 A2 [Bob Shirkey]: Yeah. Here was the building and you came
out the front door and you went down this walkway, which I just said, like
a tunnel. You could see from one end to the other, but all these separate
buildings which were different win gs of the hospital.
Q: This was the infirmary where you took the ailman, right?
A: There were some ramps there, I think the old ramp's still
there. It was. Anyway, that's the kind of buildings they were . You don ' t see
it today, no.
Q: I knew tihat the building, most of it, was new, but I wasn 't sure
if they 'd built onto it ...
A: That had been worked over two or three limes.
Q: When you look at it looks like it's been one of these things
where they 've added things to it.
So you pulled around behind the infirmary, basically.
A: It was a pretty tight squeeze in there. You couldn 't get very
many cars in there.
Q: How many of those ambulances were back there?
A: There were three old box ambulances. I call them box
ambu lance. I guess you call them ... I wasn't in the military so I don't know
what all the tenns were.
Q: Like these old field ambulances.
A: They've got the old square field ambulances, you know.
Q: The airman walked up that ramp with you. Both of you guys
went inlo ...
A: The airman and I both went in.
Q: Did he see that stuff in ...
A: He wasn ' t paying any atten tion because he had, J had a
tourniquet and towel over hi s busted nose, and he went right on in .
Q: Got himself into a little trouble in town, did he?
A: Rode an old motorcycle. The reason I remember it is because
he had an old Indian motorcyde, and I'd just bought one. I paid $40 for one
and he (rode] one, and I didn't have any fenders, and I was thinking of
maybe of...
Q: SO you took him in there, and then basically after you got him
taken care of you figured you'd go look up your friend , the nurse.
Let' s get that straight.
A: Stan Friedman, I think, somebody thought that I was having a
relationship with this nurse. I was not. This girl wouldn't even think about

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going with me, and she was going strictly, when she got her time paid back
to the service she was going into an order of the nuns, sisters , and she was
going to be in education and later on she changed to the nursing deal. The
only reason she was in it, because her folks were in debt and she went in the
service to get her education. She got her education and then she was going
to pay back the church what they owed her. Her whole thing in life was,
from the day she was born, her life was planned that she was going to be in
an order.
Q: Did she ever tell you which order that was?
A: It was in St. Paul, Minnesota. That's aU I know.
Q: That's where she was from.
A: That's where she was born and raised. She never went out of
the city until she went to ... My understanding was she never went anywhere
and she never lived anywhere. She was raised up from the time .. . Strictly
raised by the church. That was the only life she ever planned. She wouldn't
date a mao if her life depended on it. She'd get around and talk and
everything, but there was no way. But everybody said I was going to marry
her and ... That's bull shit.
Q: The implication was that she was cute and ...
A: She was cute . I could have been interested. If I wouldn't have
played second fiddle to the Catholic church, because that's what she would
have been.
Q: How did you get to know her, just being out there on the base?
A: The ambulance service. You go out there , and you've got
your splints on a gu y, you ' ve got first aid, whatever, you can't just throw
them off of your stretcher. You maybe help them ... Sometimes you're
out there two hours or three. Then while you 're waiting to get your
equipment back you sit in the coat room with the doctors and with the
nurse's quarters. That's where we always had our cokes and stuff.
Q: SO you'd j ust shoot the breeze with whoever's around.
A: You get to know these people. That's the only way. See, she 'd
only been there less than tlrree months. Of course, I'm a crazy son of a gun ...
Nearly everybody remembered her. She was a good looking little thing, a
beautiful little girl. We thought she was kind of lonely.
Q: As you well, know, there's been a major effort to try to find her.
[Skip in tape]
A: She was out here less than three months.
Q: SO you went back there. Tell me what happened.
A: I started back there, and that's when J got in trouble. I saw
this officer standing there, and I saw this debris in the back of the ambulance.

201
Two of them was full of debris. Like Bob [Shirkey1saw a bunch little stuff,
and there was a couple of pretty good sized.
Q: Two of the three ambulances had stuff...
A: One of them 's door was closed , but the other two ... There was
two MPs standing right out, kind of just leaning up against the back of those.
I remember.
Q: Did they challenge you when you tried to go in ?
A: No ... Evidently because I drove up with that airman, and they
just figured whatever.
Another thing, when I was there, all the people that was there, that
nurse was the only person I saw that was permanent station. Everybody else
was all new in that whole hospi tal operation. Even in the coke room, there
wasn't anybody in there that I knew. I started back and got to the door, and I
saw this ...
(Pause)
We've been friends for years, but I don't want to talk with him around.
Q: SO the stuff you saw, you said it was not aluminum ...
A: .. .Iooked like hot stainless steel when it got hot. When you
put flame on stainless , see, I do sculpture work and all that, and I know what
the stuff looks like.
Q: Oh, you're a sculpture? I didn't know that?
A: Yeah, I've been doing it for years. I had my own foundry ... I did.
I don't do it any more. I have my stuff done. But anyway, this stuff was a blue
pUlplish, it looked like hot stainless steel, is wbat it looked like. Steel that got
hot. It didn 't look like aluminum, it wasn't even melted like aluminum. I don 't
even think it was melted, just like a bunch of fragments.
Q: Bu t there were some bigger things in there besides the
fragments, right ?
A: Yeah. There were was two pieces.
Anyway, do you want to go back to the nurse?
Q: Yes, please.
A: I started back , see, and this captain was standi ng there, and
naturally, I just thought we had a plane crash. When we had that, we used
to fill up the ambulances and everything else. It would (inaudible) for you
to have a hand here or an arm or a foot or something. You know what I'm
talking about. Then you've got to get in and take ail that stuff and separate
it and put those bodi es back together with identification. That's what you 've
got to do. I thought we had a crash.
I saw thi s guy, I didn 't know him. He was standing there at the door.

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 Q: Just inside?
A: Just kind of standing like in between the door of tbis room
up there. I was going down the hall. I said, "Sir, it looks like we had a plane
crash. Do I need to go in and get ready for it?"
Q: Tbis was an officer?
A: Yeah, he was a captain. I remember the bars on his [inaudible].
He said, "Wbo are you?" I told him I was from the funeral home, and he said,
"Wait right there, don't move."
Then he came back, that's when the two MPs came up. When the
nurse came out, we started down the hall and that's when somebody in the back
of us said, "Bring that son of a bitch back." That's when the redheaded captain
asked where the sergeant carne in right there. Then they took me on out As I
was going down the hall, she carne out of, like Bob said, out of tIus room, and
there was two guys in back of her, and they all had towels over their face.
She saw me and she said, "Glenn, what are you doing here? Get
out of here, you're going to get in a lot of trouble. How did you get in here?"
She said that two or three times. She was sick.
Q: This is when you were talking to that first officer?
A: Yeah. He just told the MPs to take me back to the funeral home.
Q: He had just told them that, and then she appeared at that point?
A: He told them to take me to the funeral home, and we started
down the hall, back out the hall, and that's when she came out of another
room with these other two guys. What happened, she told me the next day,
they were aU sick because those little bodies were in those sacks, and two of
them were very mangled and the smell was horrible and one was whole and
two of them were very badly mangled.
Q: Did you get a whiff of that stuff yourself?
A: N0, evidently not. If I would have, I would have known what
it was. I worked on a hell of a lot of stuff.
Q: In that tape you talked about working on floaters and all that
kind of stuff.
A: You know.
Q: I haven't had professional experience in it, but I've been
involved in it.
A: In New Mexico you' ve got this hot 100 degree stuff, and
you've got bodies out there two or three days, and (inaudible).
Q: This read headed guy, what was his rank, do you remember?
A: I think he was a captain. It seemed to me like he had on some bars.

203
 Q: When he first appeared and started getting, essentially, pretty
rough, was the sergeant around at that t,ime, or did he show up ...
A: He was kind of beside of him. I think they were standing
there ... Yeah, they were definitely standing there together. I don't know if they
walked in together, because I didn't see them until they turned me around.
Q: Was there a lot of activity at that time? Were there people...
A: People were [fastened] everywhere. And the odd part of it
was, there wasn't anybody, wasn't any of our regular people. These were all
people that I'd never seen before. That's why I got in so much trouble. I'd
never seen these guys.
Q: These were no! any of the guys that would ordinarily
recognize you as somebody who would ...
A: And they sure as hell didn't want me there, you know that.
Q When he says, "Get him out of there," the redhead, did he
make any threats to you himself? Did he say, "Don't say anything about this,
forget it..."
A: He said, just like that. He says, "Now listen, Mister, you
don't go back into town starting a bunch of damn rumors." This guy swore
as much as 1 do. Anyway, he said, "Don't start a bunch of damn rumors,
because nothing happened out here. There's no plane crashes. Nothing's
happened. You don't go in and start." Then he told the MPs, "Get the son of
a bitch out of here."
That's when I said, right then, I said, "Look, Mister, I'm a civilian, and
you can't do a damn thing to me, you go to hell." That's when he said, "Listen,
Mister, somebody will be picking your bones out of the sand."
Then the black sergeant said, "Sir, he would make good dog food,"
or something like that. I remember the dog food .
The next morning at 6:00 o'clock ,the sheriff was out at my dad 's
house and told my dad, "Glenn may be in a lot of trouble with the base, and
tell him to keep his mouth shut."
r never told my story to anybody, but my dad came up, I was living
in a room at the funeral home. He came up and got me out of bed and
wanted to know what I'd done. He was a very patriotic old man, and he said,
"If you done anything against our government, ]' II take care of it."
Q: When was this?
A: The next morning.
Q: You were saying what the heck? What's going on?
A: Yeah. I said, well hey ... He said, George Wilcox-the sheriff
and my dad were rcal good friends , and he said Gemge tells me you're in
a lot of trouble out there. He wasn 't going to leave, and 1 told my dad the
story. He got all upset because they threatened me and all this kind of stuff.

204
 I didn't see the nurse, then, until the next day. After I saw her, then
I kept calling. When I got back to the funeral home I started calling, because
she was in trouble and so was 1.
Q: It was the next morning after you'd been hustled out of there
that your dad came by to see you.
A: Yeah, 6:00 o'clock in the morning.
Q: He'd been called by the sheriff...
A: The sheriff went to my mother and dad's house, and at 6:00
o'clock ... M y dad always got up early, sat and had coffee. He was an old
carpenter and building contractor. He and George were old friends because
he used to go hunting, and dad was making gun stocks, so they were good
friends. They used to play some kind of domino games or 42, whatever you
call it. They were good friends.
Q: SO the sheriff went by to see your dad ...
A: Dad said he was there at 6:00 o'clock.
Q: The sheriff carne by early in the morning and then your dad
immediately came from home and carne to see you.
A: After George Wilcox left, my dad came up to the funeral
home and wanted to know what I did.
Q: Did your dad say why the sheriff... Had the sheriff been
contacted by the base, or...
A: No, he just said, he was concerned about what I'd done, how
I'd got in trouble.
Q: Do you remember what he told you about what Wilcox told him?
A: He just said George said I was in trouble at the base, and what
did I do.
Q: Then after having this rude awakening, you then... Did you
call the nurse?
A: WeU, yeah, trus was in mid-morning. I remember I finally, I
waited until kind of, well, it must have been 9:00 o'clock or so, and I called.
I knew the work station that she always worked at. She was a general nurse.
They didn't specialize. Just orderlies and everybody was on general duty in
those days. I was informed that she wasn't there, she wasn't working. She
wasn't working that day.
Q: It was one of the other nurses that you talked to?
A: Yeah, it was an old girl by the name of Wilson., Captain Wilson. I
asked her, I said what happened? She said, "Glenn, I don't know what happened,
but she's not on duty. I'll try to get the word to her that you want to talk to her."
She was wanting to talk to me, but she was sick. She was in total shock.

205
 Q: Did she tell you that later, that she was sick?
A I knew she was sick. She came out with that towel. She said,
she and the two doctors were sick. Then at the Officers' Club, she said I
want to know what happened to you, and I'll tell you what happened to me.
The only way we ever got to the Officers' Club, the old regular group said
you don't go anywhere, you keep your mouth shut. [inaudible] said that.
The old group, they would have known us . It probably wouldn't have
mattered. But these people, hell, these people did'n't know us. And of course
I had a pass, and I had an associate membership to the Officers' Club, the
funeral home did, so I could go as I pleased. I had free access to the base.
Q: Did you meet her at the club ?
A: She said she'd meet me over there. She was sick. She said
I' ll meet you there.
Q: When you got there, she was at the club?
A: She was walking up when I drove up. She walked over. It
wasn't very far from the hospital.
Q: She walked from the hospital OF...

A: From the nurse's quarters.

Q: Let me back up to the event with the MPs. They physically
hustled you out of the hospital....
A: Well, they didn 't carry me out, they said, "Come on, we're
taking you back," one on each side. They didn't have their hands on me or
forcing me.
Q: I've forgotten which one of the accounts has them lift,ing you
right off your feet and all that kind of stuff.
A: No . They may have got me by the elbow, but that was that.
They were nice guys. They were doing what they were told to do.
Q: They got you to the ambulance. Did they follow you back to
the funeral home?
A: One followed me in a pickUp and the other one sat in the seat
with me.
Q: Oh, I sce, he actually rode with you in the ambulance.
A: He rode with me, and the other one drove a pickup and picked
him up. They had a pickup.
Q: Did the guy riding with you say anything about what was going on?
A: He said he didn't know what was going on. That was the first
thing I said, "What in the hell 's going on?" You know. He said, "You know
more about it than we do," something similar to that. I don't know the exact
words, but he didn ' t know anything.

206
 Q: Now we're back to the Officers' Club and you met her there.
When you saw her, how did she look?
A: Like a nervous wreck. Her hair wasn 't combed or nothing.
She said she'd been sick all night crying and everything else, and she was
still crying. She was hysterical. She put her hands over her face and said I
can't believe it. The most horrible thing she d ever seen. She was reall y in
bad shape.
Q: You called her and wanted to get in touch with her to talk with
her about what happened.
A: I was curious .
Q: Did she seem reluctant at first to talk to you about it?
A: No, she said I' ve got to talk to you. I want to know what
happened to you. She said I've got to talk to somebody, and that was it. You
know, I'd see her a lot. I knew all those old girls out there, you know.
Q: Did she give you any indication or any reason to believe that
she had been told to keep her mouth shut about it, Of...
A: Well, yeah, because I'll tell you what. She had this drawing
on the back of a prescription pad, these little bodies, it was on the back, a
little small thing on the back of a prescription pad. She said, "I'm going to
show you something, and you have to give me your sacred oath that you
won't tell anybody when you got this and you won't ever mention my name,
because I will get in a lot of trouble." That's what she said. "I wi11 get in a
lot of trouble."
Q: She didn't say specifically that somebody had ...
A: No, she just said, "I win get in a lot of trouble." She said,
"Will you do that?" I said, "Sure."
She showed me that. And she had it written on the back like I had
it on the back of that, you have my drawing, where I said note, and all that.
That's what she said.
Q: She let you keep that, she gave it to you?
A: Yeah, she said you look at it and you throw it away. I never
did. I went and took it back and put it in my personal fiJe .
Q: Which subsequently got tossed, apparently.
A: Well all the fiJes got tossed.
Q: What happened?
A: Well, the funeral home, I hired some guys, the manager up
there now [was there] before I left, and Raymond said that he doesn't
know, because when he w as working up there was another manager, and
he said he thought Joe [Lucas] told (inaudible). Of course Joe and I
weren't very good fri ends and we 'd had some problems over the funeral

207
business, and he said Joe found my files. He said I know he went
through everything you had.
He and I had a partnership in a business, and I put up all the money
and it went sour and so we had problems.
Q: You and Stan Friedman actually made an effort to try and find
that, didn't you?
A: We went down there. The old tile was right where I said it
was, it was still there. But it was, Stan will tell you, we went down in this
old basement, and I knew exactly... See, I kept tiles on every case that I was
involved in, murders, anything that I went to court on, that I was a witness
on, I kept all that. I called those my personal tiles. If I ever had to go back
with the insurance companies or anything, I had it all right there. That's why
I had those.
Q: You found the filing cabinet but there was nothing in it?
A: No. We went through it. There wasn't a thing in it. Stan and I both.
Q: They'd stripped it out, or was there other stuff in there ...
A: There wasn't anything in there.
Q: After all of that excitement, then what? Did it just kind of
evaporate?
A: It just kind of evaporated. Then of course two or three days
later, I was concerned about her because she was sick. I took her back to the
nurse's quarters and let her out. I called back the next day and they said she
wasn't on duty, and I called the next day and they said she wasn't on duty.
Then I went out there, for some reason, I don't recall. I went out there and
I asked about the lieutenant, and they said she'd been transferred out. They
said, "She was transferred out yesterday." Well, that was the day after I saw
her. They got her out the next day.
Q: Who told you she'd been transferred out?
A: I don't know. Some nurses ...
Q: It wasn't anybody that you remember?
A: No.
Q: Did they tell you where she'd been shipped to?
A: They didn' t know. They said she had been transferred, and
that 's all they knew.
Q: But then you heard from her subsequently.
A: About three or four weeks later. I got a card addressed to
Ballard Funeral Home. It was from her, and inside it just said, just a short
note, she said we will correspond later to see what happened to each other,

208
something similar to those words. She said the only way you can contact me
is through this APO number, and there was an APO number. It was a New
York APO number.
Q: SO she'd gone to Europe or some place.
A: Then right on the bottom she says, "I'm in London." That was
it. I wrote a note, just a note, that said if you feel like it and you get time,
then I would love to know and we'll correspond. Mine came back. That was
about three or four weeks later. Mine came back.
Q: That was the one that was marked deceased?
A: Yes . It said return to sender, [addressee] deceased.
Q: Then what did you do?
A: (inaudible)
Q: You didn't try to follow up or see if there was any possible ...
A No. [asked (inaudible), at the time we called her Slatts
Wilson, a big tall nurse, 6'2",6'3", big tall skinny girl. We called her Slatts.
Everybody called her Slatts. She's the one that told me she'd heard that there
was a plane crash and she was the nurse that went down on a training mission.
She said that's strictly rumor, I don't know anything about it. That's what 1...
Q: No one 's been able to turn that one up at all.
A: I guess maybe I should never even mention this. I know no
one believes this damn story. Nobody believes tllis story.
Q: I don't know if that's true.
A: Anyway, it was a hell of a story. I told (inaudible). I said T
told the woman, I don' t want to give you her name, because I told the lady
I'd give a sacred oath and I didn't want to get involved. Well, it's been 45
years, almost 40 years, and I haven't heard anything . He said I will do it
confidentially and nobody else will have this name . Well, that's where he
broke his promise after that. I got all over him about it. I called him and
I was madder than hell. He said well, Bob Shirkey was the one that told
everybody, that he was sitting in the back of us. Bob brought Stan [Friedman]
up there when he interviewed me . He said, Bob Shirkey was the one that let
out her name . To this day, Stan Friedman (inaudible) still says he did not
put her name out. I've been on several shows, not several, but two or three
interviews, and I'm not going to mention her name. If somebody says is this
her name? I'm not going to say it is or it isn't. I told Stan ... I was madder
than hell about it, because I did give my word.
Q: There' s another side to that, too, from the standpoint of
those who are trying to get some ans wers. By not having her name
around, i t makes it easier to cross-check the stories that you get from

209
people. You have ... It 's a question of honor, and that's very sound. I
applaud you for that. There's not too many people around these days
that are concerned about that kind of thing. And it's also, from an
investigator ' s point of view, an advantage, too.
A: I've never read this stuff, I've never watched the videos, I've
never read any books, I haven't even read Stan's books, I haven't even read
[Kevin] Randle's only what they say about me. Friedman is a lot more
accurate, but sec ...
Q: You mean about...
A: About me. I've read that. That's the only thing rve read.
I'm not a UFO guy. I've got another life besides UFOs. But anyway, Stan
Friedman 's story is pretty well right. But Randle and them was always
sai d I got curious. I didn ' t get curious. I went out there on a call, just
like I told you.
Q: The section of their book that refers to you is really kind of
cryptic, anyway.
A: They said the book was already published. Now they had a
copy ... Friedman sent them a copy of my tape. They had the (inaudible).
Hell, they had my tape. They just made that up. Somebody did.
Q: I was puzzled by it when I read their book. That whole
section where they refer to you, and it's all very mysterious, and your name
is not referred to in the table of contents, but you're in the list of people that's
been interviewed, but you're not one of the key people lists ...
A: They never did interview me.
Q: They never talk to you at all?
A: Not personally. They didn 't interview me until a long time
later, a year or so later. They onIy had Stan's tape.
Q: SO when they were actually writing their book...
A: The book was already published .
Q: When they were doing the writing, they were working from
Stan' s tape.
A: Evidently.
Q: Who was actually the first UFO investigator to get in touch
with you?
A: Stan Fliedman. When they had Unsolved Mystelies here
and different ones. There was a lot of people ... ~' d get different ones. I had
different people come and say we want to talk to you about the UFOs, and I
said I don't have anything to say, I don't want to talk about it, and I never
did. I've talked to very few people since.

2\0
 Q: How did Stan come to find you?
A: One of the guys that I went to scbool with, high school, and
Captain Harry Blake, he' s a general now, (inaudible).
Q: Is he still on active dUty?
A: No, he's retired. He was just a general in the military
school, National Guard, I don't know. He never was reall y a good friend
of mine. We lived across the street from each other when we were kids.
So that's how Stan found you. He was the first guy to talk to you.
A: Bob Shirkey brought him up there to see me.
(Pause)
Q: There's a reference in here to you having some years later,
I think, talked to a pediatrician that you knew? A guy that was stationed ...
A: I can't find his picture, and I don't remember lUs name. I ran
into him when I was fishing up in Colorado and we ran into each other.
Q: This was a guy who was at that time stationed here?
A: He was here, and they called him in. He said that was out
of his field and he didn't want anything to do with it.
Q: They actually called him in and asked him to take a look at
what had been retrieved or...
A: He said they called him in. I don' t know. He said, "But I
said that was out of my field and I didn't want anything to do with it."
That's what he told me, now.
Q: Did you get the sense that he knew more than he was telling?
A: I would say so, yeah. 1'm sure they did. A lot of those
guys out there did.
Q: You don't remember his name?
A : I don't remember it. But I did run into him. Somewhere
I've got h is name.
Q : Have you talked with anyone else? Had you during that
time before you got into all this ...
A: No, I wouldn ' t have even talked to him about it. He
brought it up and wanted to know whatever happened on the UFO
business.
Q: It was at his initiative.
A: I didn't bring it up. I told him I didn't know any more
about it than he did. He said well that was strictly out of my field, and I
didn't want to get involved in it. That was about it. But he brought it up.
I didn't ask him.

211
Q: He was just curious about what happened.
A: Wanted to know whatever happened to it.
Q: That's about all I've got.

(END)

212
 Transcript of Interview with Alice Knight*
(Alleged secondhand witness to
"crash site"
175 miles northwest of Roswell)
A: I remember that he saw- one time I went to visit- and I
don't remember whether it was before my husband and I married or after,
I don't recall the date. But he said that he saw a UFO fan. He was out
working in the field and I understood that he was out on the St. Agustin
Plains and he went over that way and it feU and he got nearly to the site
and there was a group of people on a geological- archeological hunt and
they were over there. I don't remember how many people he said.
But they got nearly up to the UFO but it was close enough that
you could see some creatures . He said they didn't look like human
beings out there.
And along came government cars and trucks ...
Q: Now, by government you mean ....
A: I guess it was government. You know, as I said it was a
long time ago. And someone came along and I understood it, I don't
know whether it was army or what. I think he just termed it government
trucks and they told him to go on back and forget they ever saw anything ,
and that's all I recall.

(END)

* Exerpted from raw footage used to prepare the video, Recollections of Roswell Part II,
(Washingto n, D. C.: Fund for UFO Research, 1993).

213
 Transcript of Interview with Vern Maltais*
(Alleged secondhand witness to
"crash site"
175 miles northwest of Roswell)
A: ... he [the eyewitness] had been coming back from one of
his field trip s, he'd run onto a flying saucer that had burst open and
there were four beings on the ground and that he was survey ing the site,
arche ological group from the University of Penn sylvani a, telling us that
there were about fo ur or five people with this group .
As they were just slarting too look things over really closely, the
military moved in and gave them a briefing not to say anythi ng about it
and keep quiet and it was in the national interest to get out of there.
Q: What was his feel ing about what it was that he had
experienced?
A: He had no qual ms about what it was. He said it was a
vehicle from outer space. There wasn' t any quest ion. The beings on
there were nothing like, not exactly like human be ings .. .
Q: How did you .. .
A: .. .similar but not exactly.
Q: How did he describe them ?
A : He described them being about three and a ha lf to four feet
tall , very slim in stature, and with- there heads were hairless, with no
eyebrows, no eyelashes , no hair. Sort of a pear-shaped he ad with the lOp
of the head bei ng smaller-l arger, I mean.
Q : Any other characteristics about their appearance?
A : O nly one thin g that be mentioned. The hands were not
covered, they had fo ur fingers.

(END)

,;. Exerpted from raw footage used to prepare the vi deo, Re collections of Roswell Pa rt II,
(Washington , D.C.: Fun d for UFO Researc h, 1993).

214
 Transcript of Interview with
James Ragsdale*
(Alleged fi rsthand witness to
"crash site" north of Roswell)
RAGSDALE, JAMES EYEWITNESS Transcript
26 JANUARY 1993

DS: So you were actually out t here.

JR: Yeah.

DS: Do you remember the name of the ranch it was o n? "

JR; It was o n ... Fisher?

OS: Was i t north of here.
JR: Yes . back out here.

DS: Northwest . Just take your time.

JR: It was Foster. (Some discussison wit h hi s wi fe abo u t who
owned t he ranch) ... Let me see what you ' ve got ( referring to th e
photographs). That's the place right there ( identifying the
location from the pictures).

DS: What area?

JR: It seemed to me t hat that place be lo nged t o ... F i sher, but it
sold to s o mebody else . somebody else bought that .. .
That's how c ome I was ou t in t hat
area . And we was o u t there and she ' s d e ad and a l l the guys I
showed the s t uf f are all dead. It's amazing what al l went on . ..

Discuss our book and the Museum.

DS: showing o ne of the pictures . so you think this loo ks li ke

J R: That looks like the place.

DS: As fa r as the ranches go, driving around at t hat t ime, it

could have been most any ranch, righ t ? This wo ul d h a ve b een i n
'47 You were with this woman?

JR: Yeah. We were camped out out there.

OS: You were camping?

JR: Yeah .. I wou ld say half of i t . .. r wo u l d s ay th at o nl y about

half of i t ... just ha lf of a you real l y couldn' t t e ll what i t
was . what you could still see, where it hit ... r think it was two
spacesh i ps fly i ng together and one them came down and the other
one picked up what they could and got out of there .

* James Ragsdale. interv iew with Donald R. Schmitt. January 26. 1993.

215
RAGSDALE - JANUARY 26, 1993 (2)

os: Is it possible that because it was hi t by l ightning tha t it

broke up and part of it went down (discussion o f the Mac Bra2el
sighting)
JR: . but it was either dummies or bodies or something laying
there. They looked like bodies. They weren't very l ong ... over
four or five foot long at the most. We didn't see their f aces or
nothing like that but we had just got to the si t e dnd heard t he
army, the sirens, all coming and we got into a damned jeep to
take off. We had to hold a fence up to go onto another ranch to
come out from there.
DS; How far would you say this from town here?

JR: Thirty miles .. forty miles .

DS: In a nortwesterly direction?

JR: Right up here. (DiscuBs the pictures again. )
os: Were there any buildings?
JR: No. You couldn't see nothing. You go up on top of the hill.
It was a hil l ... (referring to the pictures) you could see the
stuff right here.
os: The object .. the craft .. what was left of it .. in t hese
photos .. where was the object?
JR: Along this right here .. lt looked to be about ha l f of around
(?) because around the edges .. l had two great big pieces. That's
what they got when they stole the car .. you could take that stuff
and wad it up and it would straighten itself out. I never seen
anythig like it. Looked like something between a p l astic . .. looked
like carbon paper ..
DS: That was the color of it?
JR: Yeah. Carbons. That was the color of it . Sure was ... be tween
plastic and ... hel l I don't know let's see how to descr i be . One
piece we had you could take it and put it in any form you wanted
and it would stay there .. you could bend it in any form and it
would stay it wouldn't straighten back out.

DS: You picked those up from the ground?

JR: Yeah ..

os : You threw them in the jeep .. stuffed t hem in your cl othes ... ?

JR: Yeah and then we heard all of them coming ...

216
RAGSDALE - JANUARY 26, 1993 (3)

os: How many vehicles . how much commotion did you hear as they
came in?
JR: Oh my God it must have been .. it was two or three six by six
army trucks, a wrecker and everything ... and leading t he pack was
a 47 ' Ford car with guys in it . MPs and stuff i n it ... we had the
windshield down on the jeep and we stayed in th e weed s and
stuff and we came on back down to where we was camped a t .
os: So you watched for a while?
JR: Yeah. Sure did.

os: What was their .

JR: They cleaned everything a l l up. I me an c leaned i t . They raked
the ground and everything. I mean they cleaned everything.

os: You didn't stay there that long?

JR: No, but they had a truck. I would say it was s i x o r eight big
trucks besides the pick up, weapons carriers and stuff like that.
os: What kind of guard did they have. Did th e surround certain
areas . .
JR: They had MEs all .. they got way out in the f i eld. They had
people all along this ridge they drove up in he r e. We was back
over here. This grass here

DS: So if you were back here, could you see the act i vi t y down
here?

JR: You couldn't see too much of what they .. . you c ou l d tel l ... As
soon as they got there they began gathering t h e stuff up . . . we
were hidden in what you call buffalo grass .. .
os: Did you see any behavior around the bodies.
JR: Huh-uh

DS: You couldn't see down to that level?

JR: Yeah.
DS: Did you see any activity near the craft?
JR: No.

DS: The angle of the craft . was it flat was tipped ...
JRI One part was kind of buried in the ground .. and part of it

217
RAGSDALE - JANUARY 26, 1993 (4)

was sticking out of the ground about like that ( DS: about a 30
degree angle?) Yeah . and I ' m sure that was bodies . either
bodies or dummies . .
os: Why do you say dummies?"
JR: The federal government could have been doing something
because they didn ' t want anyone to know what th i s was .. ot hey was
using dummies in those damned things . .. they cou l d use remote
control.
os: So you thought that it could have been an experimental craf t ?
JR: After I came to down showed Frank Will i s and hi s son (he's
dead) . the Blue Moon beer joint over on t he old Dexter h i ghway .
We was there until two o'clock in the mor ning ... r had the jeep
behind my car.
os: Did you still have the scrap in the jeep?
JR: Yeah. I showed it to him. He said I would j ust keep my mouth
shut . he sa i d hel l there is no telling where that come from.
os: So you didn't think it was from outer space?
JR: No. We didn't even think about outer space bac k t he n .. .
os:When was the first time that you thought that maybe this was
something more?
JR: It was about three weeks ... it came out th at a spaceship had
crashed at Roswell .. about three weeks. But it could have been
out longer than that there but see I worked in Carlsbad ...
os: But you first saw there had been a newspaper article about
three weeks after ..
JR: Oh hell it was two or three weeks before I c aught up on
it .. a spaceship .. what I hear is they guarded that p l ace for a
long time out there . because me and another fellow we nt out
there and you couldn't get they had the roads sealed off ... i t
was a month or so after .
os: And they still had it cordoned off.
JR: The MPs and stuff were still on the road. They wouldn't l et
nobody go out there .
os: If a person were to drive out there today ... going nor t h ou t
of town . are we talking 285?
JR: No. Highway 48. You go out 48. You go out here t o the truck

218
RAGSDALE - JANUARY 26, 1993 (5)

route, hit 48 and .. and it's about forty some miles out in
there .. (And no talks about the car being stolen in 1951 when the
car with the debris was stolen . ) . ! would say 18 inches and
30 inches long . strips off the edge of it ... it was a heavy
material but it didn't have no ridges .. it was put together with
some kind of solder like stuff . no bumps, no nothing in it .. it
wasn't . it was about as heavy as duraluminum .. it wasn't as
brittle .. you could take a small piece and it was flexible .. .
(then discuss the stealing of the car with a wrecker and the
material was locked in the trunk of the car. And then discuss the
break in of the house where the last of the pieces were stolen
about eight years ago .. 1985).
DS: Was there a storm that night?"
JR: Yeah. There sure was. It was a whale of a storm.
os: Did you hear anything unusual? Did you hear ... between the
cracks of thunder . .
JR: Well , it lit up the sky when it came down. It lit up the
damned .. we thought at first that it was fal l ing star or
something. And electric lightning, .. man it was something.
os: You heard something and you saw something ...
JR: Yeah, sure did . because we were laying there in the back of
the pick up . the whole sky lit up .. we thought it was a star
falling.
DS: Did you then go to check it out ..
JR: Sure did. The next day, sure did. We drove right up on it.
She picked up a piece of it and we had the jeep parked a little
ways away from there and throwed a piece of it up ther e somewhere
and I have tried and tried to find where she had throwed that
piece ... she had a piece but when she saw the acmy coming she
throwed it out .. she saw them a coming and she throwed it out ... l
doubt that I could even go back to the place it 's been so long.
(Now begin to talk about the car wreck that near l y kil l ed him.)
Remainder of the tape is discussion about the car wreck, the
ranchers in the area, and the murder of Mrs. Ragsdale's brother .

(END)

219
 Selected Bibliography
of Technical Reports
The technical reports listed below are available for sale by contacting:
National Technical Infonnation Service (NTIS)
5285 Port Royal Rd
Springfield, VA 22161
(703) 487-4650
http://www.orders @ntisJedworld.gov

Publication NTIS Report Number

Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories.
"Report on Research, for the Period July
1965-June 1967", AFCRL TR-68-0039, 1968. AD 666484
Air Force Missile Development Center.
MA N H IGH lII, MDC-TR-60-16 1960. AD 259635
- - . M AN-HIGH I, MDC-TR-59-24, 1959. ADA 21 5867
Air Research and Development Command.
History of Flight Support Holloman Air
Development Center, 1946-1957, 1957. ADA 323526
Bartol, Aileen M. et al.. Advanced Dynamic
AnthfVpomorphic Manikin (ADAM) Final
Design Report, AAMRL TR-90-023, 1990. AD 234761
Bushnell, David. Contributions of Balloon
Operations to Research and Development
at the Air Force Missile Development Center
HollomanAFB, N. Mex. 1947-1958,1958. ADA 323109
- - . History of Research in Space Biology
and Biodynamics at the Air Force Mi site
Development Center, Holloman AFB,
New Mexico, 1946-1958, 1958. ADA 323170
- - . History of Research in Subgravity and
Zero -G at the Air Force Missile Development
Center, Holloman AFB, New Mexico,
1948-1958, 1958. ADA 3231 44

221
- - . Major Achievements in Biodynamics:
Escape Physiology at the Air Force Missile
Development Center, Holloman AFB,
New Mexico, 1953-1958, 1958. ADA 323127
- - . Origin and Operation of the First
Holloman Track, 1949-1956, 1956. ADA 323573
- - . Research Accomplishments in Biodynamics:
Deceleration and Impact at the Air Force
Missile Development Center, Holloman AFB,
New Mexico, 1955-1958, 1958. ADA 323097
--- . The Aeromedical Field Laboratory: Mission ,
Organization, and Track Test Programs,
1958-1960, 1960. ADA 323166
- - . The Beginnings of Research in Space Biology
at the Air Force Missile Development Center,
Holloman AFB, New Mexico, 1946-1952, 1958. ADA 323167
Cobb, D. B. and Waters, M.H.L. Royal Aircraft
Establishment Famborough. The Behavior
of Dummy Men During Long Free Falls,
Mechanical Engineering Note 179, 1954. AD 060052
Firestone, James R. and Patterson, Jack H.
Recovery of Parachute-Borne Packages
by HeLicopte1; TDR 62-6 1962. AD 276477
Flight Summary, Non-Extensible Balloon
Operations, 6580th Test Squadron (Special),
June 1950 to October 1954. ADA 323108
Gildenberg, Bernard G. "General Philosophy and
Techniques of Balloon Control", in Lewis A.
Grass, ed., Proceedings, Sixth AFCRL Scientific
Balloon Symposium AFCRL-70-0543, 1970. AD 7 17149
- - . Capacity and Fatigue Tests on Th ree Mil
Polyethylene Balloons, HADC TN-55-4, 1955. AD 066092
- - . Crane Launch Techniques for Polyethylene
BaLLoons, HADC TN 57-3, 1957. AD 123732
- - . Development of Shroud Inflation Techniques
f or Plastic Balloons, HADC TN-54-4, 1954. AD 039440
- - . Investigation of Inflation Techniques for
Nonextensible Balloons, HADC TN 54-7, 1954. AD 067595
- - . Meteorological Aspects of Constant-Level
Balloon Operations in the Southwestern
United States, AFCRL-66-706, 1966. AD 644895

222
- - . Summary Report Project MOBr DICK: Covered
Wagon Balloon Launcher Development and Test
Results, HDT-21 , 1952. AD 001124
- -. Techniques Developed for Heavy Load
Non-Extensible Balloon Flights, Report No.
HADC-TN-S4-3, 1954 . ADA 030902
Greer, R.J., et al. Development of a Balloon-Borne
Manned Vehicle, WADC TR-59-226, 1959. AD 227244
Hertzberg, H.T.E. The Anthropology of
Anthropomorphic Dummies,
AMRL TR-69-61, 1969. AD 706411
Hess, Joseph. Determination of Parachute Descent
Times and impact Locations f or High Altitude
Balloon Payloads, AFCRL 63-885, 1963. AD 421021
Holloman Air Development Center, Weekly Test
Status Reports, Project MX -1450B172l8
(HIGH DIVE) June 1954 to January 1956. ADA323823
Madson, Raymond A., 1st Lt. High Altitude Balloon
Dummy Drops, II. The Stabilized Dummy
Drops, WADC TR 57-477 (II) , 1961. AD 270880
- - . High Altitude Balloon Dummy Drops,
Part I. The Unstabilized Dummy Drops,
WADC TR 57-477 , 1957 . AD 130965
Mazza, Vincent and Wheeler, R. V. High Altitude
Bailouts, MCREXD-695-66M, 1950. ADA 323449
Nolan, George F. Balloon Ascent Trajectory
Dispersion Over the United States at 60,000
and 100,000 ft, AFCRL-66-98, 1966. AD 631502
Redmond, Kent C. Integration of the Holloman-
White Sands Ranges, 1947-1952, 1957. ADA 323574
Ruffner, Kevin C. (ed). Corona: America 's First
Satellite Program, 1995. PB 95928007
Simons, David G., Lt. Col., (MC) Stratosphere
Balloon Techniques for Exposing Living
Specimens to Primary Cosmic Ray Particles,
MDC TR 54-16, 1954. AD 075812
- - . MA HIGH II, MDC TR 59-28,1959 . ADA 230805
Stapp, John P., Maj., (MC) Human Tolerance to Linear
Deceleration, Part i. Preliminary Survey of
the Aft Facing Seated Position, Air Force
Technical Report 5915,1949. PB 100871 ;"

223
- - . Part ll. The Aft Facing Position and the
Development of a Crash Harness, Air Force
Technical Report 5915, 1951. PB 106572*

*Available from:
Library of Congress
Photoduplicating Service
Washington, D.C. 20540
(202) 707-5640

224
 Index
A APO (Air Po t Office) 82
ApOLLO 32, 59
accelerometers 21,30
Arizona 47
Aero Medical Laboratory, USAF 20-21 . 23. 32, 104- 105,
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFlP) 99
107, 117.121
arms 62, 97
Aeromedical Field Laboratory. USAF 32
Army AirForces 1, 13, 76,8 1, 90,96. 113. See also U.S.
AFM- 143-1, MOl'tuaryAjfairs 99
Army Air Forces
agents, federal 50
Army Nurse Corps (ANC) 81
agents, government 78
Artesia. N.M . 67
Air Force 1-3,5,8- 10, 13. 21 ,26.28, 3 1,35 , 37-38,
Ashland, Wisc. 105
41-42,44. 46, 48, 51 -53, 55, 57 , 6 1-62, 68, 75-76,
Atlantic Ocean 112
79,86.89-91,95 - 10 1, 103,105. 109,1 11-1 13.
autopsies. preliminary 77. 91 , 98
116-1 17, 121 .1 23. 125 . See also U.S. Air Force
autopsy, alien 1
Air Force L tter 35-3 86
autopsy protocol 96-97. 99
Air Force, Secretary of the 1-2, 13
autopsy; i s; ied 1, 12,77-78.94-95, 97.99
Air Materiel Command (AMC) 19-20
Aztec (N.M.) Independent Review 84
air samples 42
Aztec . N.M . 83-85
aircraft
A-26 112 B
B-25 96
B-26 112 Ball. Guy 19
B-29 93-94 Ballard Funeral Home 76, 97
B-47 93-94 ballast 57
B-52 115 Balloon Branch 30. 37. 43-51 57-58. 6 1. 65. 102-W3,
C-13 1 105.120 105-107,110,1 13-1 15, 124
C-47 30. 64,93-94 balloon control package 57.64
F-4 11 2 121 balloon controllers 47,57
F-51 96 balloon drops 28
KB -29 93-94 balloon failu re 58
KC-97 3, 93 -97 balloon, high altitude 3, 9, 15. 17, 19, 23 ,25,28. 32,
KC-1 35 93 -94 36-38. 43. 45-49,52,-53,55. 57-58, 61 . 64,66-67,
L-20 30, 64, 124 91 ,96, 100-104, 109, 117,125, 157
T-33 93-94 balloon, polyethylene 40-42,58,66, 106-107, 114- 115
X-15 32 balloon, tethered 45-46
airman 76, 86 balloon train 5-6, 11-13
Alamogordo Army Airfield. N.M. 37 balloon, "Vee" 47
Alamogordo N.M. 32 balloon. weather 5,40
Alaska 47 balsa wood 6
Alderson Research Laboratories. lnc . 2 . 34, 59-61 bandages 62, 04
aJien(s) 1-3, 5, 11-12, 15, 17, 2 1, 23, 25, 28-29, 33, 36-39, Barnett, Grady L. "Barney" 58,67
46-47,55,6 1, 75,78.96, 109, 113, 118, 123 , 125 base histories 94
ambulance 76-78, 99, 105, 109, 113-116 Baylor University 31
Anderson, Gerald 14, 60-6 1, 67. See also interview Bean. Alan 120
in Appendix C Behind the Flying Saucers 84
Antarctica 47

225
Berliner, Don 8, 60 D ISCOVERER XIII 43-44
Biodynamics of Space Flight 102. See MAN H 1GH dispensary 114- 11 6
black sergeant" 86 doctor(s) 76-78, 9 1, 96,98-99,110
Bl ankenship, Robert 49 dog fo od 77
Blau w, Alfred 5., M .D. 99 doll(s) 16, 61
blimp 60-61 ,64,67 dolls, plastic 14, 60-61
bod y bags 35-36,91,96 "Dr. Gee" 85
Bravest Man, The. See Stapp, John P. Col. (M C) USAF (Ret) drones, remotely-piloted 15
Britai n 4 1 drug smuggling 50
Brooke Ge neral Hospital , F t. Sam H ouston, Tex. 83 drug store supervisor 97
Buck Rogers I I I dummies, anthropomorphic 3, 9, 14, 16- 17, 19-21 , 23-26,
B us h, George H.W., President 32 28, 32, 34-36, 38-39, 41 , 47 , 55-62,64-65,67-68, 9 1,
10 1, 103, 109, 112, 123, 156
c dummies, crash test 17
du mmies, parachute drop 19-20
Cahn, 1. P. 85
Cambridge, England 83 dummy drop 23,28, 35 , 57. 157
" Dummy Joe" 19
camera(s) 30-31
canoe 76, 78, 91 , 113, 115 E
cargo trail er, 1 II2-ton 65
Carlsbad, N .M . 67 ear 61
Carswe ll AFB, Tex. 81 Earth 5,41,44,46,102
caskets 35, 76 Edwards AFB, Calif. 21,31
Chavez, Dennis , Sen. (N.M .) 87 Eisenhower, Dwight D ., President 112
Cheney Award 31-32 ejection 32
Close Encounters of the Third Kind 118 ejection seat 20, 21
Clouthier, CharIe E . 83. See also Signed sworn statement El Centro, Calif. 120
in A ppendix B EI Paso, Texas ] 06
cold soaking 64 Elder Statesman of Aviation 112
Collier's 26-27 England 82
Coltman, Charles A., Jr. , Col. (MC), USAF (Ret). See entry vehicles, atmospheric 42
Signed sworn statement in Appendix B escape pods 78, 1 13
commissary 95, 98 EXCELSIOR 23,25-26, 32,38,55-56, 59 67-68, 101-105,
community relations 58 107, 109-110, 11 2,124
con-men 85 Executive Order 11652 I
Contributions of Balloon Operations to Research and eyes 77
Development at the Air Force Missile Development
Centel; Holloman, AFB, N. Mex., 1947-1958 41 F
cooperating wi tnesses 6
Fanton , Eileen M . 1st Lt. , USAF 82-83, 91
C ORON 43
Farmington Drug 83
cosmic ray particles 42
Farmington, N .M. 78, 83-84,90
cover-up 8-9, 26, 83, 110, 123, 125
Ferrell , Lee F., Col. , USAF 87, 9 1, 98
Crash (I t Corona 8
finger(s) 15, 33, 55, 59-61 , 97
D flight surgeon 31, 107, 116
flights ult 28-29, 63
debris I, 6, 57 flying disc 5-6, 78. See also fly ing saucer
debris field 11- 12 fl ying saucer 1-3,5 ,29, 36-37,41,44,47 56,58 -59, 64,
Dennis, W. Glenn 75-78, 81-86, 88-90, 96-97 99, 110, 67, 78, 85, 96, 123, 125
114, 197 flying saucer wave [of 1947] 5
Denver, Colo. 44 Foster Ranch 11
Department of Defense 46 Four Corners [region] 83
D ISCOVERER XI 43 Frankli n, Ky. 96
DISCOVERER XlI 43

226
Frederick, S.D. 102 I
Friedman, Stanton T. 8, 60, 76
Ft. George Wright, Wash. 88 identification specialist 95, 98-99
Ft. Worth AAF, Tex. 81 instrumentation kit 30
Fulgbam, Dan D., Col., USAF (Ret) 106-107, 116, 12 1 insulation bags 35-36
See also Signed . worn statement in Appendix B intimidation 6 ]
Fund for UFO Research, The 58,60 186,2 13 ,21 5 irregular [researc h] methods 8
funeral home 77 ,95, 97. See also Ballard Funeral Home
J
G
Jagger, Dean 38-39
GAll LEO 44 jeep 15,56, 65
gamma rays 46 John Hopkins Un iversi ty, Tbe 53
GAO 1. See also Oen ral Accounting Office Jorgeson, Ole, A2C, USAF 107, 113-114. See also Signed
gauges, strain 21 sworn statement in Appendix B
GEMrNI 32 Jornada Test Range 67
General Accounti ng Office (GAO) 1, 125 Jupiter 44
General Philosophy and Techniques of Balloon Control 48
generato r, MB-19 65
K
Gi la Mountains 124 Kau fma n, William C., Capt., USAF 105-107, tl 6, 119.
Gildenberg, Bernard D. "Duke" 8-9,48, 102. See also See also statement in Appendix B
Signed sworn statement in Appendix B Kelso, Wash. 96
glass, broken 76, 11 4 Ke ntucky Air National Guard 96
Goddard, Joyce, Capl., USAF 88-89 Kitti nger, Joseph w., Jr., Capt., USAF 25 -26, 48, 101 - 107.
Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Champion hip I l 2 J09- 112, 117- 120, 124. See also Signed sworn
gowns, surgical 99 statement in App ndix B
gurneys, hospital 35 Knight, Alice 15, 58,67,21 3. See also interview in
gyros, rate 21 Appendix C
Korea 88,121
B Kovatch-Scott, Ethel, Col., USAF (Ret) 89
hands 15,33,59-60,97
Harmon Trophy 112
L
Hawaii 43 Las Vegas AFB, Nev. III
head(s) 15,59,61, 77 ,97, lOO, 107,11 8-120 legal clai ms 58
helicopter 107 , 1 10, 116- 117 Life magazine 26-27
helmet l07 lights, strobe 4 1
helmets, pith 60,63 "little m nn 84-85
hematoma 119 livestock 58
Hepburn, Audrey 82 London, England 41, 78, 82
hieroglyphics 113- 11 4 Long, Lonely Leap, The 26, 11 0
Higgins, j.J. 19 Lordsburg, N.M. 104
HIGH DrvE 23 26 29-30,34, 38, 55-56, 59, 63 , 67-68, 103 Lovell, Jim 120
high-speed track 17, 21 , 38 Luftw affe 20
hoax 96, 123 Lutz, Roland H. "Hap", SSgt., USAF 11 7. See also
Hodiak, John 38 Signed sworn statement in Appendix B
Holloman AFB, N.M. 8-10, 16- 17, 26-27,30-32,35,37
38, 4 1, 43-44,46-47,49,5 2-53 59,63-65, 102-1 03 , M
105 -107 , Ill, 113 - 114, 11 8-120, J24
M -342 5-ton wrecker 29,58. See also wrecker
Hollywood 38
M-35 2 112-lon cargo truck 30, 58. See also six by six
horseback 30
M-37 3/4-ton utility truck 30,58,65, 113. See also
human remai ns pouches 96. See also body bags
weapons carner
Hynek, 1. Allan 117 -1I 8
M-43 3/4-ton ambulance 65, 113. See also ambulance
MAD [magazine1 26

227
Madison, Guy 38-39 NCO [Non-Commissioned Officer] 86
Madson, Raymond A., I st Lt., USAF 29-30, 63. See als() Nenninger, Richard L. , Maj., USAF 124
Signed sworn statement in Appendix B New Brighton, M inn . 102
Maltais Vern 15 , 58-59.67,214. See also interview NewMexico 1.3,5,9,11,14- 15,17, 19,23,30,34,36-37,
in Appendix C 4 1-42, 46-4 8,55,58,6064,67,84,91,95 , 109
MAN HIGH 26, 32,48, 101 - 104 110-112 ew Mexico Institute of Mini ng and Techno logy 9
MAN IN SPACE SOONEST (MlSS) 103 New York. N.Y. 21 ,82
Marcel, Jesse, Maj ., USAF 6 New York University 9, 40
Mars 44 newspaper accounls 41 94
Martin Marietta Corporation 44 newspaper announcements 8
masks, surgical 99 newspapers 31
Massachusetts Institute of Teclmol ogy 103 New ton, Silas M. 85
McClure, Clifton, 1st Lt., USAF 102, 104 Nixon, Richard M., President
McCook Field, Ohio 19 nondisclosure agreements 13
MERCURY 32, 103- 104 Nordstrom, Frank B., Capt. (MC) , USAF 83 , 89. See also
"MERClJRY Seven" 32 Signed sworn statement in Appendix B
meteorological data 42 nosecone 43
Mexico 96 nuclear accidents 13
MiG-21 112 nuclear weapon 5
Military Po lice 76
Milner, Martin 3g o
Minnesota, University of 31
ocscillograph 30
missile, ballistic 5
odor 77,91 ,95-97
missile, intercontinental ballistic (ICBM), Atlas F 17
officers' club 77 . See also Roswell AAF Offi cers' C lub
missiles 5, 13, 16
oil field worker 97 . See also Dennis, W. Glenn
missing nurse 78 , 81 -83 , 87-90,96-98, 121 . See also
Omni magazine 83
Fanton, Eileen M., 1st L t, USAF
011 the Threshold af Space 26, 38-39,63
Mitchell, Cameron 39
Orlando, Fla. 112
ML -307B/AP. See radar targets
"Oscar Eightball' 21
MOGUL 1-2, 5-6,9, 11- 13,40,42, 78
monkeys 16 p
Moon 44
Moore, Charle B . 8-9 40 Panama 47
morgue 97 paper 5,8
morning reports 81 . 88, 89 paper, alu minized 6
mortician 76.98-99 parachute 19, 23, 25 -26,28,31,49,57,62, 64, 103 , 124
mortuary 76 pathologist 95,98-99
MPs 77 , L16. See also Military Police payload 17, 40-4 4,46-48,53,57,61,64,66-67,91
Muroc AAF, Calif. 2 1,31 . See also Edwards AFB, Calif. Pea e AFB N.H. lIS
museu m 3, 75 P d iatrician 76, 78,81, 83 -84,86, 89-9 1,99,1 21
mystery witnes' 75 pharmac ist 83
pho ne directories 97
N P IONEER 44
police 49
NASA 37,41,44-46, 59, 103 . Ill, 120
polyethylene 40. Se e also bal loon, polyethylene
National Highway Tramc Safety Adm ini stration 19
polygraph examination 60
National Aeronautic. Association 112
Popula r Mechanics Magazine 26-27
National Archives and Record Administration 8 1
POW 112. See also Prisoner of War
National Aviation Hall of Fame 32
Pre-Astronauts, The 11 0
National Geographic 26
predatory animals 97
National Medal of Technology 32
preparation room 97
National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) 81
Prisoner of War 110
NATO 111

228
Project 119L 42 San Agustin Peak 67
Project BL EBOOK 117 San Agustin Plains 11- 12,58, 67, 109
Project GEMINI 120 Sal1 Francisco Chronicle 85
Project MERe RY 11 I satellite 41 -44
Project MOGUL. See MOGUL saucer 30. See also fly ing saucer
property damage 58, 66 Schiff, Steven, Rep. (N.M.) 1
Schmitt, Donald 56, 214
R Schock, Grover, Capl., USAF 105
radar 6 41 Schwaderer, George 98
radar guided missiles 42 Schwartz, Eugene M., 1st Lt., USAF 29
radar targets 6 . cientists, civilian contract t3
radio stations 31 Scully, Frank 84-85
Ragsdale, James 14,56,67, 2 14. See also interview in Selff, Naomi Maria 81. 88. 90
Appendix C sensors 1
ramp 114. J20 sensors, acoustical 5
rancher 5, 37 sheriff 5,49-50
Ray, Hilary 120 Sierra Engineeri ng Company 21. 60
Recollections of Roswell, Parr II 58, 60, 186, 2 13, 21 5 Sierra Madre, Calif. 21
reconnaissance, photograph ic 42 "Sierra Sam" 21. 29
redheaded captain 60, 77, 91. 100,1 09-110,1 17 Sighting.l 96
redheaded colonel 77,87,91,96, 98 Sil ver City, N.M. 50
redheaded oftieer 77-78, 86 Simons, David G. Lt. Col. (MC). USAF (Ret) 26, 48.
remote control 56-57 10 1-102, 104
research m thodology 11 six-by-six 15.30.55-56.58,65 . See also M-35 2 1/2 ton
reward 66 cargo truck
rocket sled 32, 39 Slattery. Luc ille c., Capt., USAF 88-89
Ros ie 0' Grady ' Hying Circus 11 2 Smithsonian Institution 103
Roswell AAF 6,1 2,15 37, 45, 75-7 8,81 -83, 88-91, Society of Automotive Engineers 32
116, 12 1,197 Socorro (N.M .) Defensor Chiejian 6.9
Roswell AAF hos pital 12- 13, 75-78, 8 1- 83, 86- 90, Socorro. N.M. 8
97 , 109 Sonic Wind N 1 31
Roswell AAF Officers' Club 81, 87 Southeast Asia 110, 11 2
Roswell Army Air Field 3,5, 12- 13, 45,68. See also Soviet 5
Roswell AAF Soviet Union 43
Roswell Daily Record 8 space 42-44, 46, 102- 104, 121
Roswell Incident 1,3, 5-6,9,11 - 12,16- 17, 21 , 37- 38, Space and Missi le Command, Test and Evaluation Uni t 46
42, 44-45 ,60 , 75 , 78, 84- 85, 88, 90, 116, 118, space probe 37 42, 44
G All LEO 44
121 , 125
PlO~EER 44
Roswell Industrial Air Center 37, 44
Roswell, N.M. 1, 3, 5-6, 8- 13, 15, 23 , 30, 33-34,36-37, SLi RVEYOR44
44,47, 4951,56,58,61,65,67-68, 76, 78,83,95, VllmlG 37, 44
97- 102, 106, 109, 113,187,215 VOYAGER-MARS 45
Roswell Report: Fact V.I'. Fiction il1 the New Mexico Desert 2 spacecraft 44, 47
rubb r 5, 8 spaceship 6, 12,38.46.67
Ruidoso, N.M. 124 Sp TNIKI 43
St. Catherine's Academy, Springfield, Ky. 82
s St. Mary Elizabeth's Hospital. Louisville. Ky. 82
Slack. Robert 38
SAC. See Strategic Air Command Stafford. Ariz. 124
Sacramento Mountains 106, 124 Stapp Car Crash Conferences 32
safety belts 19, 32 Stapp. John P. Col. (MC), USAF (Ret) 20-2 J, 31 -32.
San Agustin Mountains 67 38-39.104- 105, 107. 109.111- 112.1 17.120
San Agustin Pass 67

229
star witness 75 unidentified flying object 4 1
STARGAZER 49,101 -105 , 109-1 10,1 12, 1l7- lI8 Units
statement, signed sworn 56, 84 I st Ai r Commando Wing III
sticks 5, 8 6th Bombardment Wing 94 115-1 16
Strategic Air Command (SAC) 94, I 15-116 47th Air Division 115
stretcher, military 35 427th Army Air Forces Base Unit 81
sunglasses 96 Squadron "M" 81
SURVEYOR 44 509th Aerial Refuel ing Squadron 94
symbols 76 509th Bombardment Wing 94, 115-116
555th Tact ical Fighter Squadron (''Triple Nickel") 112,
T 12 1
579th Strategic Missile Squadro n 17
tanker 95
tape 5, 8 62 4036th USAF hospital 95
tape, red [duct-ty pe] 29, 62 7510th USAF Hospital 82
unrecorded interviews 8
targ ts, missile 42
Ted Smith Company 20-21 Unsolved Mysteries 38, 60
Upper Darby, Pa. 20
Texas, University of 31
USS Haiti Victory 43
Texas, West 47
thr au.; 61
Time 26-27,32
v
tinfoil 5,8 Vandenberg AFB, Calif. 43
transducers 21 Variety 84
transducers, pr ssure 30 Venus 44
transmitters, radio 41 Vietnam. Hanoi I 12
transponders 4 1 Vietnam, North ] 12
truck, pickup 56, 58 Vietnam, Re public of I II, 121
True magazine 84-85 Vietnamese, North 110
Tularosa Valley [N.M. ] 23 VIKING 37, 45
Twentieth Century Fox 26. 38 "Vince and Larry" 19
VOYAGER-MARS 44
u
U.S. Air Force 1,3, 14,17, 19, 23,37,41, 43,45-49, 55,
w
64,67,76,82,85-86, 90,102-105, I ll, 123,125 WalkerAFB,N.M. 15 17, 45,83,86-89,9 1,93-95,
U.S . AmlY 53 86, 112 97- 102,107, 109- 110,113 - 11 7,1 20- 121
U.S . Army Air Forces 1,5,8-9,12, 20, 31, 40, 75-76, Walker Chalma 89
86, 120, 123 Walt D isney World 112
U.S. Army Special Forces 112 Walter, John, SSgt., USAF 98
U.S. Government 1, 14, 42,67 Walter Reed Army Medical Center 99
U.S . Government Printi ng Office 2 Wasem. Martha 89
U.S . Navy 43, 103-104 Washington, D.C. 99
U.S . Navy Aerospace Recovery Facility 120 weapons canier 15, 30, 55-56, 58, 65, 1 13-114. See also
Ubon Air Base, Thailand 121 M-37 3/4-tol1 utility truck
Udorn Air Base, Thailand 11 2 weather equipment 5
UFO 2, 5,9 12,37, 4 1,44, 47-48, 58-59,96, Il7 -118 Whenry, Jack, 1st Lt., USAF 98
UFO Crash at Roswell, The Truth About the 46-47 While House, The 32
UFO enthusi a ts 60 W hite Sands Missile Range, N.M. 16, 42-43, 45, 67. See
UFO Museum ~\Jld Reseru-cb Center, The International 3, 75 also White Sands Proving Ground, N.M .
UFO organizations 60 White Sands Nati onal Monument, N.M. 29
UFO propon nts 123 White Sands Provi ng Ground, N.M. 23,25 42, 106, 124
UFO resemchers 8 1 White, Willi am C. 103- 104
UFO theorists 10, 47-48,60,67, 75, 78, 82-83 85, Wickenb urg, Ari z. 50
96, 113 - 1 1 ~ 12 ~ 123

230
Williams, Carol 89
Wilson, Capt. 77-78,87,89
Wilson, Idabelle M., Maj ., USAF (Ret) 90
Wilson, "Slatts" 77-78, 87-9 1
Wimpole Park, Cambridge, England 83
Winzen, Otto C. 101, 105
Winzen Research International 102
World War I 19
World War II 19-20
wreckage 76-77,91,99,109, 113-114
wreckage, bluish-purplish 76, 78,91, 113 115
wrecker 15,29-30, 55 -56,58,65 . See als o M-342
5-ton wrecker
Wright Field, Ohio 19, 21, 77
Wright-PattersonAFB, Ohio 12, 77-78, 91 ,95, 98,100,
104-105,107,1 17. 19-1 20

23 1
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90000

9 780160 490187